The National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS, has issued a Democracy Day statement criticizing the structure of the country’s democracy and said that it was remembering the National Youth Corps members who were killed by supporters of General Muhammadu Buhari in Northern Nigeria during in the 2011 elections and in subsequent elections in the country.

“Leadership of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is piqued at the continued celebration of Nigeria’s incomplete democracy,” a statement signed by the organisation’s president, Chinonso Obasi said.

“This yearly hollow ritual has helped to blind Nigerians to the grave historical shortcomings that led to the present democratic system of government, which is observed with a quasi military constitution and electoral system,” the statement, e-mailed to The Trent on May 30, 2017, said.

“NANS believes that after 18 years of government by some people for the people, Nigerians should set out a day for national sober reflection on the shortcomings of what the country parades as democracy.

“We are worried that the political space remains constricted by recycled leaders and military apologists without any attempt to include women and youth in decision making process. The electoral system admits active participants only on the basis of possession of large sums of money both for expression of interest and nomination forms.

“At the Local Government level, which should be a training ground for future leaders, state governors have emasculated the sector for political aggrandizement, stifling innovative ideas, development and popular participation.

“Even State Houses of Assembly have been colonized by state governors to ensure lack of accountability and probity in governance, because lawmakers must be loyal to the governor and not the ideals of true democracy as participatory governance.

“Crucial issues of education of youth and gender mainstreaming are still treated as tokens for electoral mandate during electioneering and not as necessary pillars for development of an open society and sustainable future.

“Budgeting process has continued to be shrouded in secret just as the implementation follows the path of voodoo political economy, while the masses the electorates remain at the mercy of their representatives instead of the other way round.

“Yet, despite the disdain for public opinion, each year by May 29, public holidays are declared to serve as recreation of rulers in the name of celebrating Democracy day. Time has come for Nigerians to ask, what manner of democracy does not include or cater for the wellbeing of the future generation?

“NANS therefore use this opportunity to call on Nigerians, particularly youths and women to think deeply about the way Nigeria democracy is being operated and resolve to mobilize for a durable change. That is a better way to celebrate democracy as a popular system of governance.

“We use this opportunity to remember countless members of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) that lost their lives in the course of the do-or-die battles otherwise known as elections in Nigeria,” Obasi ended.

The Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, has lambasted the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government over the continued detention of a former national security adviser, Colonel Sambo Das‎uki (Rtd) and the leader of Shi’ite movement in Nigeria, Ibrahim El-Zakzaky despite court orders which admitted them to bail.

The National President of the Bar, Abubakar Balarabe Mahmoud, SAN, who lambasted the government ‎during a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, May 29, 2017 to mark this year’s democracy day added that such disobedience to court orders is uncalled for and does not show compliance to rule of law.

“The NBA is appalled at the continued detention of certain individuals in blatant disobedience to court orders. Among these individuals are Sheikh Ibrahim El Zakzaky and his wife, and also Colonel Sambo Dasuki,” the NBA president said.

“While we recognize the seriousness of the charges in which individuals were held, we nevertheless viewed their continued detention as unjustified and contrary to the express court orders. We call on the government to without further delays respect theses orders”.

In the same light, the NBA further called for the termination of investigations against judges who were accused of corruption but have not been charged before the court since the past eight months.

“In the wake of the arrest and detention of certain judicial officers by the DSS, the NBA had taken the view that the judges affected should recluse themselves from judicial functions until the investigation and outcomes of those investigations were determined, we note that nearly eight months after those investigations were launched, some of the judges have not been prosecuted or charged before any court of law.

“This situation is completely unsatisfactory and unacceptable. The NBA calls on the government to terminate the investigation against those judges to enable them resume their work as judicial officers”.

On the issue of agitation succession by some groups in the country, the NBA called for a better way of showing grievances aside the threat to break up.

“NBA affirms commitment to unity and building a strong Federal system. We urged all groups to continue to agitate peaceful existence among citizens of the country”.

On the issue of security, the NBA commended the Federal Government especially in the fight against Boko Haram in the North East and the recent release of 82 Chibok girls.

Speaking on the anti corruption crusade‎ of the government, the bar noted that , “efforts of anti corruption agency is commendable. New anti corruption strategy has been developed. Stakeholders should help the FG towards the success of the policy. We commend whistle blower policy. The government should fund the anti corruption agencies.

“The lingering issue of EFCC leadership should be tackled once and for all. The investigative agency should be more careful and thorough in carrying out its investigation. Media investigation should not be encouraged”.

The Nigerian Army has revealed that at least 1,400 suspected Boko Haram members are undergoing investigation at its detention facility.

Lucky Irabor, outgoing theatre commander, operation Lafiya Dole, said this on Tuesday during a handover ceremony at the army command headquarters in Maiduguri, Borno state capital.

Irabor has been posted to the multinational joint task force (MNJTF), while Ibrahim Attahiru, a major-general, has been appointed to replace him.

“Investigation is still ongoing and I can assure you that many of the terrorists have owned up that they actually took part in the activities of Boko Haram,” he said.

“They are still undergoing process of de-radicalisation as part of the efforts to fully reintegrate them into becoming meaningful citizens.

“On how many we have taken to court, I can only tell you that we are collaborating with the ministry of justice to commence that process.”

Irabor said the army had recorded remarkable progress in the fight against Boko Haram in the last one year and had continued to work tirelessly to conclude the operation.

“In the past, a lot of operations were conducted and we had related some of them to you. We had strived in ensuring that peace returned to the north-east,” he said.

“I urge the new theatre commander that it should be sustained.

“Boko Haram has done no good to anyone. Your life, my life and that of average Nigerian officers and soldiers must not be at stake.

“So, we as responsible citizens have a role to play in bringing new ideas and innovations to deal with the new tactics of Boko Haram.”

Responding, Attahiru urged the media to continue to give its support to the military to enable it to win the war against Boko Haram.

He promised that the command would continue to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and the civil society to win the war.

“The command would also open human right desk at the division where cases of erring officers and soldiers are reported and treated,” he said.

‘It is not enough to say that youth must take over, Nigerian youth must be in charge, do the talking as well as the acting,” Joseph Akinlaja, the House of Representatives member representing Ondo West and Ondo East Federal Constituency at the National Assembly.

Dr. Akinlaja said this at the Democracy Day program of the Students’ Union Government, SUG, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo on Monday, May 29, 2017.

Defining the role of youths in democratic dispensation, he noted that participation in democracy goes beyond politics and extends to areas as civil rights campaign, Education Rights Movement, Health and Environmental Vanguard, Entrepreneurship, Community Development Groups and many others.

‘Politics is just one section; there are more sectors where you as a youth can be more useful and instrumental to national development and democratic advancement in Nigeria,’ he emphasised.

Speaking further, he defined the two key roles of Nigerian youths in gaining political power as establishment of youth structures and providing intermediate political link.

He said: ‘There is need for unity of purpose among youths if the agitation for taking over is taken serious. If youths that constitute about 70% of Nigerias population can build a viable and formidable structure, it won’t take a year to democratically dismantle the old order.

‘Let me say it here, that the #NottooYoungtoRun campaign is a step in the right direction and a worthy campaign if youths can come together to push it through. Its a step in the right direction.

‘To push through the democratic culture, youths can take up the challenge of establishing a political link or cord, linking the local population with the youth structures to make real the quest for democratic transition from the old order to the young generation.

‘Politics transcends sermonizing and countless speeches and writings on the pages of newspapers as well as agitations in the media.

“Politics is a practical game that starts from making yourself relevant in your streets, units, wards and local governments. It’s about building structures, not talking. Many of us didn’t get to where we are today by mere talking,” he said.

He further enjoined youths to be prepared for leadership position as responsibility could beckon on them anytime.

Three policemen were on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 reportedly set ablaze, following a clash between the police and some officers of the Nigerian Navy in Calabar, Cross River State capital.

Quoting a source, Channels TV reports that the naval officers set the deceased ablaze in their station.

Sources in Calabar say as many as ten policemen may have been killed by the rampaging naval officers in the tourist town.

The Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian police are literally having a fight in the streets of calabar. Roads blocked, bullets flying. Christ.

— Big Daddy Gersh (@__gershom) May 30, 2017

The source disclosed that the misunderstanding between the two parties had started at a police checkpoint, opposite the Navy barracks in Akim area of the town.

According to the source, trouble began earlier in the day after a policeman stopped a naval officer at the checkpoint, but the officer reportedly refused to stop.

The source said the refusal had led to a shootout.

He added that following the incident, some naval officers mobilised later in the evening and “set the police station ablaze.”

The state police command is yet to release an official statement concerning the development.

The navy in the state has also not made any official statement concerning the issue yet.

Nigerian security forces clash often over matters of “slight”. It is now becoming a common occurence where military forces attack police over disagreements.

Rarely are offending officers brought to book.

Hattip to Signal.

Bukola Saraki, Nigeria’s Senate president, on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 said that his relationship with President Muhammadu Buhari remains cordial despite false claims in some quarters.

He spoke when the national executives of the Islamic group, Jamaatu Izalatul Bidiah Wa Ikamatus Sunnali (JIBWS), led by its President, Sheikh Mohammed Sani Yahaya Jingiri visited him.

According to a statement issued by one his media aides, Chuks Okocha, the senate president debunked allegations that he and the Senate are working against President Buhari. He said, ”I want to assure you of the good cooperation between the legislative arm and executive led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Since the commencement of this Senate, I think we had about 196 requests from President Buhari for confirmation of his nominees and we have confirmed 185. I think, we have only rejected 11. By Mathematics, that is over 90 per cent.

“I want to assure you there is a lot of noise in the media, please, be assured that the two arms of government are working closely together, more than the past sessions.

“I want to appeal to you now that you are here, to convey the same message to your followers. I assure you that we have a very cordial relationship with the executive.”

Saraki also reaffirmed the commitment of the Senate in ensuring good governance, economic stability and creation of jobs for the teeming unemployed youths and promised to ensure that all bills to be passed by the Senate would ensure that religious sentiments of Nigerians are taken into consideration.

The Senate President told his visitors that the Gender Bill currently before the National Assembly would be fair to all religious groups and sentiments.

Dino Melaye, the senator representing Kogi West under the All Progressives Congress (APC), is in another media scandal over allegations of offering a bribe to a federal judge.

An audio published by news website, Sahara Reporters, on Tuesday, May 30, 2017 appears to contain exchanges between Senator Melaye and the judge, Akon Ikpeme, as they duo discussed the bribe money.

Mrs. Ikpeme was the head of the Kogi State National Assembly Election Petitions Tribunal, which handled a case brought by Smart Adeyemi, a former senator, against Mr. Melaye’s election in 2015.

In the clip, a male voice believed to be Mr. Melaye’s, could be heard assuring a female speaker, supposedly the judge, of his readiness to pay some money, which the female speaker emphasised should be in “in USD (United States dollars).”

The exchange went as follows:

Judge: I wanted to tell you that whatever you want to do, make it in USD

Dino: Of course, of course, of course, of course, of course, no problem madam, no problem.

It was unclear whether the money was finally paid.

Earlier in the recording, the judge had informed the Senator that she had returned to her state, Cross Rivers, apparently after her work at the tribunal.

Mr. Melaye assured he would reach Mrs. Ikpeme after returning from a London trip with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

Apart from money, the conversation also revealed that the judge relied on the Senator to peddle his influence to get her daughter a job placement in Cross Rivers State’s civil service.

Mr. Melaye boasted that he had already spoken with the governor, Ben Ayade, and a permanent secretary in the state ministry of health for the job.

Read more at SaharaReporters.

How Nigeria’s Oldest Tribe, The Igbo Lost 3.5 Million People & $50Billion Properties To Criminal Hausa-Fulani Muslim Citizens And Their Allies Since 1945 (72Yrs)

The leadership of Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) can authoritatively and researchably confirm that Igbo Ethnic Nationality in Nigeria, which is Nigeria’s oldest tribe or ethnic nationality, had since 1945 till date, lost not less than 3.5million People and properties valued at over $50billion to criminal Hausa-Fulani Muslim citizens and their allies.

These allies are drawn from other killer public office holders and their non State actor associates from Southwest and other non Hausa-Fulani Muslim and non Muslim counterparts in North-central and Northeast Nigeria. The criminal Hausa-Fulani Muslim citizens and their allies are those directly and remotely responsible for the decades’ long deaths of over 3.5million Igbo citizens and destruction and forceful possession of the properties of the Igbo People since 1945, which are valued at over $50billion.

It is also extremely important to state here that out of 3.5million Igbo citizens lost in Nigeria since 1945 or in the past 72yrs, 3million citizens were killed during the Biafra-Nigeria Civil War, 200,000 others were killed in decades’ long Igbo butcheries since 1945 and 300,000 others died untimely as a result of successive and present central governments’ hash policies against the Igbo People including massacre of their bread winners and legal guardians.

The priceless piece of information and quotation below is obtained exclusively by Intersociety from the ongoing research work of Emeka Umeagbalasi, who is also the Board Chair of our organization. His conclusive research findings are being publicly expected in full in coming months.

According to part of Emeka Umeagbalasi’s research work: Igbo Ethnic Nationality in Nigeria is researchably and unarguably the oldest Ethnic Nationality or Group in Nigeria having existed for 3,467yrs or since 1450BC and since 1187BC and 1087BC respectively when it crowned its pioneer kings in Nri and Eri-Aka (now Agulueri) all located in present day Anambra State.

Igbo Nation State was originally founded by Eri, a possible migrant from Middle East (i.e. Israel through Egypt); who later settled at the confluence point of “Ezu and Omambala Rivers”, called “Agbanabo”. His first place of settlement is called “Eri-Aka” (now Agulueri) located in present Anambra East Local Government of Anambra State. The name “Anambra” or Anambra State is a corrupt spelling for “Omambala River”.

The second oldest Ethnic Nationality in Nigeria can expressly be traced to the doorsteps of Agbon (now called Agbor) and Bini (Benin) dynasties in present Edo and Delta States. The Peoples of the two named dynasties may most likely have existed for 2,917yrs or since 900BC. It is important to inform further that the Agbon or Agbor People and their kingship dynasty were not originally Igbo People, but Ominije People, who later in 701BC established their “Ogele Kingship dynasties”, which reigned till 1260AD with Ogele XIV Okwakpor as its last Ogele. The Igbo-Agbor Kingship dynasty was established in 1270AD with Ebonka as its first Igbo Dein of Agbor. The Bini Kingdom was much later established in 1180AD.

Hausa Ethnic Nationality is the third oldest tribe in Nigeria and has existed for 1,217yrs or since 800AD. Hausa Nation-State or Ethnic Nationality was founded by a Baghdadi (Iraq) Prince, named Bayajidda around 800AD; about two centuries before the ancient Kano was founded by one of his grandsons, named Bagauda who later became its first king or Sarkin Kano in 999AD.

According to the Kano Chronicle, ancient Kingdom of Kano recorded a total of 38 Sarkin Kano or Kings of Kano between 999AD and 1743AD before the invasion of the Fulani Islamic Jihadists led by Usman dan Fodio at the beginning of the 19^th Century AD or early 1800s. Prince Bayajidda originally founded Daura (the oldest of the seven original Hausa States which is now in Katsina State). The seven original Hausa States are called Hausa bokwoi (original Hausa) or Hausa bakwai (seven true Hausa States founded by Bayajidda). Others including Fulani Ethnic Nationality, Nupe, Gwari and other settlements in Hausa Land areas or northern Nigeria are called Hausa banza (adopted/assimilated Hausa people).

On the other hand, the Yoruba Nation State or Ethnic Nationality is the forth oldest Ethnic Nationality in Nigeria and has existed for 917yrs or since 1100AD having been founded by Oduduwa; a migrant who was said to have migrated from Middle East. He later sent his last son, Oranmiyan to Benin in about 1170AD as the first interim Oba of Benin and was later succeeded by Oba Eweka 1 in 1180AD as the first substantive Oba or King of Benin Empire.

Fulani Ethnic Nationality is the newest and most violent Ethnic Nationality in Nigeria. It has only existed in Nigeria for 213yrs, having been founded by Usman dan Fodio; an Islamic scholar and urbanized Fulani Jihadist in 1804 during which it imposed till date Islamic Emperors in all its conquered communities including Ilorin and Bida Emirates with the exeption of the Borno Emirate, ruled till date by descendants of the rulers of Bornu Empire (1380AD-1893AD).

In all, there are 386 tribes in Nigeria and among them, Igbo Ethnic Nationality is the oldest, dating back to 1450BC when Eri was migrated and settled in Nigeria across the River Niger or 3,467yrs today. Source: Emeka Umeagbalasi: 2017.

By Direct or Physical Violence, it is act of armed hostile actions against unarmed or defenseless persons or group of persons of asymmetric background; perpetrated by public office holders including security commanders and civilians in authority or those non State actors sponsored or recruited by killer public office holders. It is direct or physical violence because it is targeted at citizens with its perpetrators clearly known. Direct violence often emerges from the depth of structural violence.

By Structural Violence, it is a kind of violence that is built in societal structure or age long inequalities in societal structures. It also develops as a result of sustained policy of asymmetry or power imbalances including political exclusion and segregation; gross lopsidedness in allocation of national human and material resources as well as demographic injustice, ethno-religious cleansing and gross lopsided spread in public offices appointments, etc.

By Cultural Violence, this is act of promoting and sustaining violent campaigns and heightened intolerance by the State and its coercive agents and hired others against ideological, religious and linguistic beliefs and their symbols; of asymmetric or minority ethnic and religious groups. It also involves use of genocidal and murderous jargons and other derogatory languages against minority or asymmetric populations by government and its agents or hired others. The description of Tutsis in Rwanda by Hutu extremists as “cockroaches” during the Rwandan genocide; the labeling of Igbo People as “Nyamiri” and Christians in Nigeria as “Infidels” by Hausa-Fulani Muslims; leading to countless hate killing of Igbo People and other Christian populations in Nigeria are all clear cases in point.

It is therefore authoritatively and researchably safe to say that Igbo Ethnic Nationality, which is the oldest Ethnic Group or first to settle in Nigeria, had since 1945 lost not less than 3.5 million People and properties valued at over $50billion to criminal Hausa-Fulani Muslim citizens and their referenced allies. This is in spite of a litany of agonies that the same Igbo Ethnic Group went through in the hands of British led Atlantic slavery and colonialism; whereby, for instance, out of 20,000 slaves shipped outside the country from Bonny Slave Depot as at 1790AD; 16,000 were Igbo People. Igbo People also lost a lot in the British pioneered western culture war, in which its value system and good ways of life got brutally relegated and corrupted.

As if these were not enough, the Igbo Ethnic Nationality had further been made to undergo countless butcheries and ethnic cleansings in Nigeria since 1945. While it is researchable to conduct research on Igbo killings or anti Igbo pogroms in Nigeria, it is highly un-researchable to conduct same research in the opposite direction or killing of other Nigerians by Igbo People.

In other words, Igbo People are inherently tolerant, peaceful and loving Ethnic Nationality in Nigeria or any part thereof, despite decades of sustained violent campaigns to wipe them out. Igbo People and their Ethnic Group have remained peaceful and refrained from reprisal radicalism or militancy till date not minding the fact the 3.5million lives and properties valued at $50billion belonging to them have been lost, destroyed or forcefully possessed since 1945.

Statistically, in the first Igbo pogrom in Nigeria which took place on June 22^nd 1945 in Jos, perpetrated by Hausa-Fulani Muslims, as much as 200 Igbo citizens were massacred; with the then British colonial authorities doing nothing. The second Igbo massacre took place in Kano in 1953, in which hundreds of Igbo lives were lost. Between May and October 1966, intensive and extensive anti Igbo pogroms were carried out in various parts of the North, leading to death of over 30,000 Igbo citizens. From October 1966 to May 1967, the butcheries intensified; with more thousands of deaths recorded; forcing then Col Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu to militarily opt for secession from Nigeria, which resulted to Biafra-Nigeria bloody civil war of 1967-70.

There was also Asaba Igbo massacre of early October 1967, perpetrated by Hausa-Fulani Muslim led Nigerian troops in which more than 700 men and boys were killed, some as young as 12 years old, in addition to many more killed in the preceding days. Other Igbo killings or pogroms that had taken place in Nigeria or any part thereof are those of Kano 1980, Maiduguri 1982, Jimeta 1984, Gombe 1985, Zaria 1987, Kaduna and Kafanchan 1991, Bauchi and Katsina 1991, Kano 1991, Zango-Kataf 1992, Funtua 1993, Kano 1994, Kaduna 2000, Kaduna 2001, Maiduguri 2001.

The rest are those of Jos September 2001, Kaduna 2002, Kaduna’s Miss World Riot of November 2002 and Prophet Mohammed Cartoons Riot of February 2006 (Maiduguri), the Apo-Abuja Six killing by the Nigeria Police Force of (six young Igbo traders: Ekene Isaac Mgbe, Ifeanyi Ozor, Chinedu Meniru, Paulinus Ogbonna and Anthony and Augustina Arebu) of June 2005, the November 2008 Jos LGA Poll Riot/killings, the Jos 2010 Christmas Eve bombings, the Madalla Igbo Catholic Church bombings of 2011, the 2011 post general elections’ riots/killings that led to killing of 10 Igbo NYSC members and several other Igbo People in the North, the Mubi Igbo killings of 2012 and Nyanya Bombing of April 2014. Over 4000 other defenseless Igbo people residing in the North were also butchered by northern Muslims’ backed Islamic Boko Haram terrorists between 2009 and 2014. \

As if these not enough, the government security forces including the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force under the present Buhari’s central government in Nigeria shot and killed over 270 defenseless and unarmed Igbo People who nonviolently agitate for regional autonomy and assertion of their regionally and internationally recognized rights to self determination. The killings took place between July/August 2015 and January 2017 in Southeast and South-south of Nigeria. Since June 2015, the terrorist Fulani herdsmen have slaughtered over 70 rural Igbo citizens.

Over 370 young Igbo citizens agitating or supporting the nonviolent Pro Biafra campaigns were also shot and terminally wounded; with several of them crippled for life. There have also been several cases of secret arrests, torture, disappearances or secret killings carried out by Nigeria Police SARS, soldiers and SSS targeted at key figures in the nonviolent pro Biafra campaigns.

Above all, out of 3.5million Igbo lives lost in Nigeria since 1945 or in the past 72yrs, 3million citizens were killed during the Biafra-Nigeria Civil War, with over half of them killed by famine, hunger and starvation deliberately imposed as a war policy by Hausa-Fulani led Nigerian troops. Not less than 200,000 other Igbo lives were in decades’ long Igbo butcheries which started in 1945 while 300,000 others died untimely as a result of successive and present central governments’ hash policies against the Igbo People including massacre of their bread winners and legal guardians.

According to Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia (2017), the (civil) war cost the Igbo (People) a great deal in terms of lives, money and infrastructure. It has been estimated that up to three million people may have died due to the conflict, most from hunger and disease caused by Nigerian forces. More than two million people died from the famine imposed deliberately through blockade throughout the war. Lack of medicine also contributed. Thousands of people (were) starved to death every day as the war progressed. The International Committee of the Red Cross in September 1968 estimated 8,000–10,000 deaths from starvation each day. The leader of a Nigerian peace conference delegation said in 1968 that “starvation is a legitimate weapon of war and we have every intention of using it against the rebels”. This stance is generally considered to reflect the policy of the Nigerian government^. The federal Nigerian army is accused of further atrocities including deliberate bombing of civilians, mass slaughter with machine guns, and rape.

It saddens our heart that till date, the Federal Government of Nigeria, on behalf of successive federal governments in Nigeria, particularly those controlled by top Hausa-Fulani military officers and their civilian counterparts; have remained defiant and unapologetic to age long injustices against the Igbo Race. Professor Yemi Osibanjo (Vice President) has also joined them in remaining defiant and unapologetic. The hard and unapologetic stance of the present Buhari Administration, which has worsened the age long Igbo hatred and hardened anti Nigeria territorial oneness activism and activists; is only making Nigerian balkanization project and its protagonists inevitable and unyielding.

The massive heeding and participation by the Igbo People in yesterday’s voluntary appeal by the leaderships of IPOB and reformed MASSOB for sit-at-home in honour of fallen Biafra heroes and heroines is a clear case in point. Despite battalions of soldiers, police personnel and other security operatives with truckloads of arms and ammunition moved to the Southeast and parts of South-south; the Igbo People defied them and exercised their inalienable right to freedom of assembly and expression in a grand style.

Through apt wisdom, tactics and strategies applied by the organizers of the voluntary sit-at-home protest, the blood suckers in uniforms who sucked over 140 innocent bloods during the 2016 anniversary of the epochal event; and their guns were forced into silence and irreparable humiliation. Despite Governor Wiilie Obiano’s stern order that government offices and parastatals must be opened and Markets and streets vigilantes to forcefully open all markets and streets’ security gates; traders and other people of the State mocked him, defied his counterproductive orders and stayed away. Banks, street markets, teachers, pupils, parents and guardians, motor park managers and commercial vehicular operators also courageously joined in observing the voluntary sit-at-home protest in honour of their slain heroes and heroines.

While we boldly commend and congratulate the People of Igbo Nation for massively heeding the sit-at-home voluntary appeal, it is saddening and shocking that Governor Willie Madubuchi Obiano, whose Eri-Aka (Agulueri) Community is the first ancestral birthplace of the Igbo people with himself as a descendant of Agulu-Nwa-Eri, now called Agulueri; could descend so low and barbarously too by joining forces with Hausa-Fulani led Nigerian Army and other security forces to massacre not less than 140 innocent, defenseless and unarmed pro Biafra campaigners of Igbo stock on May 29 and 30, 2016 who gathered to honour the Igbo or Biafra fallen heroes and heroines; during which as many as 110 Igbo citizens were massacred at Nkpor and Onitsha and over 30 massacred or killed in Asaba. More than 130 others were terminally maimed, with some, if not many of them crippled for life.

Signed:

For: International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety)

Emeka Umeagbalasi (Criminologist & Graduate of Security Studies)
Board Chairman
Mobile Line: +2348174090052
Email: info@intersociety-ng.org
Website: www.intersociety-ng.org

Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Esq., LLB, BL
Head, Civil Liberties & Rule of Law Program
Mobile Line: + 2348180771506

Chinwe Umeche, Esq., LLB, BL
Head, Democracy & Good Governance Program
Mobile Line: +2347013238673

Florence C. Akubilo, Esq., LLB, BL
Head, Campaign & Publicity Department
Mobile Line: +2349025567114

I woke up Monday morning on the 18th anniversary of Nigeria’s latest democratic endeavor to the article by my friend Chude Jideonwo titled, Dear Buhari, You Have Broken Our Hearts. I have known Chude for quite some years now in the early days of The Future Awards and we have had nothing but love and respect and support for one another all along and that has never dissipated to this day.

But while I respect his right and every other individual’s right to their choices, I find his recent recriminations about the result of his and his outfit’s support and work for Buhari really annoying. I had written about it earlier HERE.

But his new article on this issue begs a lot of questions I wish to address Chude directly.

Firstly you noted your now fabled tears at Buhari’s victory and as you put it, in the, “collective relief that we would not be facing four more years of the triumphal leadership of the corrupt and the reprobate; relief that we had just dodged a bullet.”

Now, Chude and his team were completely part and parcel of the same Goodluck Jonathan’s regime he is maligning now. The records are there in the public domain of how many times you brought Jonathan to Lagos and gathered the best of Nigerian youths to meet with him at Eko Hotel and various places. There is also the visit to Aso Rock where you also took some of the best of Nigeria’s youths to meet with the president. They were all treated to a presidential welcome and, correct me if I’m wrong, that would be the largest gathering of that quality and quantity of Nigerian youths in Aso Rock since it was built. So if that regime was any of the things you accuse them of, you and your team were a full part of it right from inception until you dumped them.

Secondly, you said you didn’t even believe in Buhari when you supported him, so what made you do that? How many times did you call Jonathan to order before dumping him? Jonathan recognized you and in doing that recognized the Nigerian youth and you had enough access to him to have told him the truth. Buhari has no such inclination. Why would you sell someone you never even believed in to us? Was it because of the money? Did they pay you more than Jonathan did?

We know the Rivers State Government under Amaechi had been a benefactor to you and your outfits over the years and Port Harcourt has played host to some editions of The Future Awards, so when Amaechi fell out with Jonathan, he logically took you guys along with him to Buhari’s camp and just like that, Jonathan and his government which you guys had been part of became the most corrupt in the history of Nigeria, even more than Abacha’s (and miss me with the B.S. of Abacha’s was a military regime).

You mentioned that you became active in Nigerian civic spaces in 2010, so that brings us to the issue of your activities. You have The Future Awards, which discovers and rewards some of Nigeria’s brightest minds from all over the world. Then you have Statecraft, which enthroned old men across Africa. Then you have Enough is Enough which protests the misrule and ineptitude of the people you put into power! So which one do we go with? Even while you guys worked on Buhari and repackaged him, he still refused to participate in the presidential debate which Enough is Enough organized! Was it part of your game plan so as not to expose his gross inadequacy for the modern day democratic Nigerian presidency?

You claim a 72 or more year-old former coupist and military dictator was “a symbol of our aspiration, an expression of a democratic ideal: that the citizen is the most powerful force in any democracy. (Buhari) was a symbol that we mattered, that our voices mattered.” How come bro? Or did you entirely miss history and government lessons in secondary school?

Like I said earlier, you were part of the past government and if you now term your choice during Buhari’s election to be one between the devil and the deep blue sea, then you have a lot of explanation to do. You need to explain to us, the Nigerian youth, your parents (mine are dead but I know your mom is here) how you helped enthrone a man they would never have voted for having known him firsthand, during his first military journey, to the highest office in the land.

It is sad that you still claim to have no regrets for your actions but that is okay. Your regret won’t repair the extensive damage this government has done to Nigerians and if you still believe that they can right those wrongs in the little time they have ahead, then you are simply denying the obvious.

Like I said in my previous essay, what you were supposed to do earlier and what you can start to do now is to return to the battalion of the Future Awards alumni and every other Nigerian youth who should be the present of Nigeria and return to the original template of The Future Awards which was for the best youths, who you worked so hard to identify, to takeover the leadership of our country when they came of age.

You gathered Nigerian youths to work on the Buhari project, it is now time for us to work on our own project! The election of Macron in France is an immediate example, since you missed all others, that our time is now. This is our country and we should glory no more in returning the same people who ruled and destroyed Nigeria before back into power when the world has already moved past them!

Chilee Agunanna is a Nigerian journalist. He served on the judging panel for The Future Awards for several years. He tweets from @ChileeChills.

The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author. 

Michael Adeyemi, a reverend and head of the African Church, Ifako Diocese, says Bolanle Ambode, wife of Lagos state governor, should apologise over her actions which allegedly led to the dismissal of Femi Taiwo, presiding chaplain of the Chapel of Christ the Light, Alausa.

There are reports that Ambode’s wife got angry over the refusal of the former chaplain to accord her respect during an anointing service.

In an interview with the PUNCH, Adeyemi said even a military regime did not contemplate such action, which he described as ungodly.

Adeyemi said if Ambode or his wife knew the tenets of Christianity, they would not deal with Taiwo they the way they did.

“What has happened is a sacrilege and Mr Ambode should know that. We have been appreciating his efforts in Lagos. Why will he allow himself to get involved in such a trivial issue that can spoil his public image?

“The embarrassment they caused us has never happened to any other denomination. Even during the military era, this can never happen… we all fought for a Christian governor, which all these?

“If Mrs Ambode is trying to cause divide and rule among the Christians, she should go ahead. We are not afraid of anything.

“We understand that Mrs Ambode is also a pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, let her go and ask the RCCG Pastor, Enoch Adeboye, whether what she did was the right thing to do to a minister of God. It is ungodly and very sad.”

Adeyemi also vouched for Taiwo, whom he described as “a very responsible minister of God”.

“He is very knowledgeable, humble and disciplined. I have worshiped at that chapel a few times myself,” he said.

“I made personal investigations about him. Even the members of the chapel are saddened by this development. If you know about what they have been doing since this incident happened, you will know venerable Taiwo is a man everybody respects.”

The government is yet to officially react to the issue, which has generated public reactions.

Read more at TheCable.

The federal government has said that primary and secondary schools in the country will soon start teaching mathematics and science subjects in indigenous languages.

Ogbonnaya Onu, minister of science and technology, said this at the inauguration of the inter-ministerial committee in the teaching of mathematics and science subjects in local languages in Abuja on Wednesday, May 31, 2017.

The inter-ministerial committee involved federal ministry of science and technology and ministry of education.

He said the inter-ministerial committee would help to develop the capacity of the local languages to serve as effective tools for teaching mathematics and science subjects.

According to him, the project will help Nigerian students to understand mathematics and science subjects better.

He said the project would also promote the application of science and technology for national development.

The minister expressed concern of the government over the low interest in mathematics and the science subjects by students.

Onu said various countries like India and China adopted a related strategy by teaching mathematics and the science subjects in their indigenous languages at the primary school level.

He added that those countries were making advancement in science and technology.

“For us to build the country of our dreams, for us to make Nigeria a truly great nation, a nation that is able to feed and house its citizens, a nation with a stable currency, we must embrace science and technology,” he said.

“Nigeria will remain dependent nation if the citizens did not embrace science and technology, because no nation can become great without science and technology.

“If Nigeria is to be great then, Nigerians must embrace science and technology.

“The socio-economic challenges we are facing in the country is as a result of inadequate application of science and technology.”

Earlier, Malam Adamu, minister of education, said the use of mother tongue to teach science and mathematics would certainly help and ensure better understanding of the of the subjects.

After 11 years, an Igando Customary Court sitting in Lagos on Wednesday, May 31, 2017 dissolved the marriage between Kafila Usman and her husband, Sheu, over her brother-in-law’s constant beatings.

The court president, Adegboyega Omilola, in his judgment, said that it was obvious from available testimony and the respondent’s refusal to appear in court, that the marriage had hit the rocks.

“Throughout the duration of this case, the respondent refused to honour court processes,” the court said.

“Therefore, the court has no other choice than to dissolve the marriage.

“The marriage between Mrs. Kafilat Usman and Mr. Sheu Usman is hereby dissolved today.

“Both parties are no longer husband and wife; both are free to go their separate ways without any hindrances and molestation,’’ Omilola said.

The petitioner, Mrs. Kafilat Usman, has approached the court to dissolve her marriage, citing constant battering by her husband’s brother.

“My brother-in-law has turned me into a punching bag. He beats me at the slightest excuse.

“There is nobody in the house to rescue me from him because only the two of us are living in the house my husband built,’’ the mother of two, who also accused her husband of abandonment, told the court.

She said: “My husband abandoned me to his 27-year-old brother about two years ago, relocated to Abuja and married another woman.

“His brother has been brutalising me; there was a day he beat me to the point that I was hospitalised.

“I asked my husband to either get an apartment for his brother or look for an alternative accommodation for my children and I in Lagos; or better still, relocate us to Abuja, but he refused.

“My brother-in-law has been bringing his gang to the house to smoke and drink.

“In fact, I am no longer comfortable as they can harm me one day,’’ the estranged wife said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the husband refused to appear in court after several summons.

Kalifat also accused the husband of failing to take care of her and the children since he relocated to Abuja.

“I have been feeding them and paying their school fees,’’ said Kalifat, who pleaded with the court to terminate the marriage.

Nigeria’s acting president, Yemi Osinbajo on Monday, May 29, 2017 took stock of the two years of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and declared that positive results were clear for all to see.

Osinbajo said this in a national broadcast to commemorate the nation’s Democracy Day and the second anniversary of the Buhari administration.

He recalled that the administration outlined three areas, comprising security, anti-corruption crusade and the economy for immediate intervention on assumption of office.

Although he admitted that the economy had remained the biggest challenge of all, he said the federal government had introduced several measures to revamp it.

While admitting that the fight against corruption appeared slow because of the slow nature of the nation’s justice system, Osinbajo stated that efforts were in top gear to recover all stolen funds and bring the culprits to justice.

On security, he said the government’s achievements in the North-East, where the Boko Haram sect openly challenged the nation’s sovereignty, were clear enough for all to see.

Osinbajo stated that under the present administration, the nation’s military put Boko Haram on the back foot, adding that the nation restored broken-down relations with its neighbours – Chad, Cameroon and Niger – without whom the war against terror would have been extremely difficult to win.

He said, “In the last two years, close to one million displaced persons have returned home. One hundred and six of our daughters from Chibok have regained their freedom after more than two years in captivity, in addition to the thousands of other captives who have since tasted freedom.

“Schools, hospitals and businesses are springing back to life across the North-East, especially in Borno State, the epicentre of the crisis. Farmers are returning to the farms from which they fled in the wake of Boko Haram. Finally, our people are getting a chance to begin the urgent task of rebuilding their lives.

“Across the country, in the Niger Delta, and in parts of the North-Central region, we are engaging with local communities, to understand their grievances, and to create solutions that respond to these grievances adequately and enduringly.

“President Buhari’s New Vision for the Niger Delta is a comprehensive peace, security and development plan that will ensure that the people benefit fully from the wealth of the region, and we have seen to it that it is the product of deep and extensive consultations, and that it has now moved from idea to execution.

“Included in that New Vision is the long-overdue environmental clean-up of the Niger Delta beginning with Ogoni-land, which we inaugurated last year.

“More recent threats to security such as the herdsmen clashes with farmers in many parts of the country, sometimes leading to fatalities and  loss of livelihoods and property, have also preoccupied our security structures.

“We are working with state governments and taxing our security agencies with designing effective strategies and interventions that will bring this menace to an end.

“We are determined to ensure that anyone who uses violence, or carries arms without legal authority is apprehended and sanctioned.”

On the fight against corruption, Osinbajo said the government had focused on bringing persons, accused of corruption, to justice.

He stated that it was the administration’s belief that public resources that were looted in the past few years were accounted for.

“Funds appropriated to build roads, railway lines, and power plants, and to equip the military, that had been stolen or diverted into private pockets, must be retrieved and the culprits brought to justice,” said the acting President.

“Many have said that the process is slow, and that is true. Corruption has fought back with tremendous resources and our system of administration of justice has been quite slow.

“But the good news for justice is that our law does not recognise a time bar for the prosecution of corruption and other crimes, and we will not relent in our efforts to apprehend and bring corruption suspects to justice.

“We are also re-equipping our prosecution teams, and part of the expected judicial reforms is to dedicate some specific courts to the trial of corruption cases.”

Osinbajo noted that the Efficiency Unit of the Ministry of Finance had succeeded in plugging leakages amounting to billions of naira over the last two years while government had ended expensive and much-abused fertiliser and petrol subsidy regimes.

He said the present administration in the last two years added $500m to the Sovereign Wealth Fund and $87m to the Excess Crude Account.

This, according to him, is the opposite of the situation before now, when rising oil prices failed to translate to rising levels of savings and investment.

On the economy, Osinbajo regretted that some companies shut down their operations through no fault of theirs while civil servants worked for months without salaries in some states.

Ayodele Fayose, the governor of Ekiti State, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to resign if he truly loves the country.

Fayose said this is because ill-health is not allowing the president to effectively discharge his constitutional duties.

In an e-mailed statement to The Trent on Tuesday, May 30, 2017, Lere Olayinka said that Fayose gave this advice when he addressed newsmen in Lagos on Tuesday.

He noted that the governor said being an avowed corruption fighter, Buhari is now under moral burden to save Nigeria from needless stagnation arising from his health challenges that have impacted negatively on his performance.

Fayose reportedly said that fighting corruption was not limited to ‎discovering large sums of money here and there, but doing the right thing at the right time.

The governor said that taking a bow when necessary was also an indication of being morally upright.

Olayinka wrote: “The governor, who appraised the two years of the Buhari administration, said the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government had failed to deliver on its promises.

“So far, the APC-led Federal Government has been a government of misadventure and Nigerians are worse for it. They say they are fighting corruption but are shielding corrupt elements within their fold.

“Members of the opposition defect to the APC for protection. Fighting corruption is more than discovering huge sums of money all over the place, with nobody being traced to be the owners, moral corruption too is bad. ‎

“He can do us the great help by resigning. Not resigning borders on his integrity.‎ His absence allows others to suppress and oppress others and that means he is allowing others ‎ to suppress their fellow human beings.‎

“There are many governments in one and they are clueless.‎ We need an active president, going by our numerous challenges. ‎How long will Nigerians wait for an incapacitated president?

‎”We cannot wait again for somebody to hold us to ransom.‎ I don’t have any bad blood against Buhari; Osinbajo has no powers without the president. He owes us the duty to tell us the state ‎of his health.”

On the performance of the economy, Fayose said it had gone from bad to worse.‎

He also lamented that the middle class had been wiped off.
‎
“There is no middle class anymore. Economic indicators are not cheery at last. They borrow money on a daily basis and committing funds that ought to accrue to all tiers of government to servicing the loans,” Fayose added.

An Igbo Socio-Cultural group, Nzuko Umunna on Thursday, June 1, 2017 has expressed satisfaction with the conduct of Igbo people worldwide in their activities to mark the the 50th Anniversary of Biafra on May 30, 2017.

The group which commended pro-Biafra groups like the Indigenous People of Biafra, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, Biafran Independence Movement, and such other organizations for the very peaceful and civil manner they mobilized and conducted themselves on the day, also hailed the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and all the South East governors for their cooperation in ensuring the success of the Remembrance Day.

In an e-mailed statement to The Trent, jointly signed by the group’s co-ordinator, Ngozi Odumuko and the secretary, Paschal Mbanefo, the prominent Igbo group noted that unlike in the past, this year’s strategy ensured a string of non-violent yet very effective activities.

The statement noted that the level of compliance with the sit-at-home directive while highly satisfactory and commendable, has shattered a lot of myths and fallacies about Igbo and their unity, adding that never would Ndigbo forget the heroes who made the supreme sacrifice for them.

The statement further thanked all Nigerians for their show of support and solidarity, and promised that Nzuko Umunna would work with all other necessary bodies to make subsequent commemorations in the years to come more massive.
The statement in full:

30th May, 2017, made it exactly 50 years after the civil war, otherwise known as Biafran war, broke out.

While it has become a tradition to remember our heroes who paid the ultimate price in the defence of Igboland during the war, the commemorations before now had been fraught with avoidable clashes between some Igbo youth and law enforcement agents.`

The commemorations, to say the least, had always been marked in an atmosphere of tension, mutual suspicion and forceful suppression of the people who were mostly attacked by the Nigerian forces even without provocation, leaving behind it trails of tears, sorrow and blood.`

It was on this basis that it was decided that this year’s commemoration be marked with a sit-at-home directive.
As an Igbo socio-cultural group, we were highly delighted at the level of compliance with the sit-at-home directive despite not being enforced in any way except through moral suasion. IPOB, MASSOB, BIM and such other groups must be commended for this rare feat.

We are also very delighted with the commemoration of the day by Ndigbo and their friends worldwide including Europe, America, Asia, Australia and other African countries where the day was marked in carnival-like atmosphere.

We must not fail to sincerely appreciate the Ohanaeze Ndigbo and all the South East governors for their cooperation and show of statesmanship while the day lasted.

All these have shattered the myths and fallacies spread about the Igbo, their businesses, unity and solidarity.
The support, understanding and effusive show of solidarity by all Nigerians to the cause was humbling. This has gone a long way to show that freedom is a universal cause and that tribute to fallen heroes is a natural human endeavour.

Based on the foregoing, we commit to working even closer with all stakeholders in ensuring a more massive and more memorable Remembrance Day subsequently.

Disturbed and alarmed by the rising incidents of suicides and attempted suicides across the country, the Aart of Life Foundation, Nigeria’s pioneer Grief and Trauma Counselling Services since 2004, is pleased to announce a programme to provide counselling to Nigerians needing help.

Aart of Life is providing a toll free counselling hotline that people can call and unburden themselves in times of distress.

In an emailed statement issued on Wednesday, May 31, 2017, Taiwo Taiwo, president of Aart of Life Foundation, the NGO noted that “we are developing a comprehensive programme to address this specific problem and in collaboration with our Partners, Psychiatrists and Clinical Psychologists of the School of Behavioral Sciences of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), we are pleased to announce our Aart of Life Counselling Hotline 0800healing (08004325464).”

Using the hotline, Aart of Life will provide counselling and support for those who are suicidal or anyone who has ever entertained suicidal thoughts; provide trauma counselling for those who have experienced or witnessed a violent, and/or life changing traumatic event.

Callers can receive, after the telephone counselling, one-on-one counselling by our highly skilled and trained Counsellors at the Aart of Life Foundation offices, 12th Floor, Elephant House, 214, Broad Street, Lagos.

Aart of Life is committed to reaching bereaved and traumatized persons nationwide through telephone counselling, planned media campaigns to promote and publicize the counselling services, printing of Information Education and Communication (IEC) materials in the form of leaflets, handbills and posters, and monitoring and evaluating impact of telephone counselling programme. It will also submit final reports highlighting accomplishments, impact, success stories, lessons learnt and challenges faced.

The Aart of Life Foundation is a not-for-profit that was established in September 2002 by TaiwoTaiwo. Aart, an acronym from the name Abioye Aronke Taiwo is inspired by the life of Abioye Aronke Taiwo, Taiwo Taiwo’s much loved 24-year-old daughter who died in a car accident on the notorious Sobo Arobiodu/ Isaac John intersection of the G.R.A Ikeja, Lagos, on the 19th of April 2002.

The mission of the Aart of Life Foundation, in keeping with the values with which this remarkable young lady lived her short life, is “to promote and advance the virtues of love, kindness, compassion, charity, beauty, and sensitivity amongst all Nigerians, and especially amongst the young women of Abioye Aronke Taiwo’s generation.’

Aart of life is Nigeria’s pioneer Grief and Trauma Counselling Service.

To support the foundation, visit their website – http://www.aartoflife.org.

The Nigerian Senate on  confirmed 15 resident electoral commissioners, RECs, of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, out of the 27 nominees sent by President Muhammadu Buhari.

On March 23, Buhari sent 27 REC nominees to the upper legislative chamber for confirmation in compliance with section 14(3)(a) of the third schedule to the 1999 constitution as amended.

Suleiman Nazif, chairman of the senate committee on INEC, while presenting his report, explained that the remaining 12 nominees were still undergoing screening.

Nazif said that the other 12 RECs would be brought forward for confirmation once the committee is through with its screening.

He said that all the 27 nominees were cleared by the security agencies.

15 NOMINEES CONFIRMED

Godswill Obioma, Abia (new appointment)

Ahmed Makama, Bauchi (reappointment)

James Apam, Benue (new appointment)

Nwachukwu Orji, Ebonyi (new appointment)

Iloh Chuks, Enugu (new appointment)

Nentawe Yilwada, Plateau (new appointment)

Umar Ibrahim, Taraba (new appointment)

Emeka Joseph, Imo (new appointment)

Obo Effanga, Cross River (new appointment)

Francis Ezeonu, Anambra (new appointment)

Briyai Frankland, Bayelsa (new appointment)

Ibrahim Abdullahi, Adamawa (new appointment)

Agboke Olaleke, Ogun (new appointment)

Hussaini Pai, FCT (reappointment)

Sadiq Musa, Kaduna (reappointment)

Read more at TheCable.

A family doctor who tried to woo a patient with flowers and cheesy chat-up lines after bragging about being a ‘good-looking guy’ has been banned from practising in the UK for one year.

Dr. Chris Uzoh, 40, spent six weeks pestering the woman to try and get a date and told her that he had ‘huge earning potential’.

He also claimed to be ‘the best in his medical school’ as well as having written ‘several well cited scientific publications’.

Dr Uzoh, who is a GP from Great Sankey, near Warrington, Cheshire, also sent her 20 text messages after getting her address and phone number from medical records.

Within 30 minutes of the appointment finishing, he texted her saying: ‘Sorry for this text message but I saw you and liked you and thought we could go on a date on the future.

‘I am single and looking for a serious relationship and not intending to mess about.’

He also left the patient a voice mail saying he wanted to ‘hear her voice before he went to work’.

Dr Uzoh later sent her another text saying: ‘I’ve been feeling like a schoolboy meeting a girl he fancied for the first time. I haven’t felt this way in a while.’

Later the woman received a card and flowers at her home along with a further message from Uzoh adding: ‘I wonder how else I would have met you if not this way.

‘My heart is pure, I care, I hope it would be possible to make you mine some day.’

The unnamed patient, who lived alone urged, Uzoh to stop pestering her but he pressed on with his chat-up lines saying: ‘I was trying to be romantic – I did not mean to be creepy. I was excited about you.’

Another text said: ‘How is it possible that a good looking guy who is a doctor, who has a job with huge earning potential, who was the best graduating doctor in his medical school, who started out as a urological surgeon with several well-cited scientific publications, who thinks you beautiful and special, who wants you – and you wouldn’t give him a chance? I’ve been in a Toronto and I couldn’t stop thinking about you.’

The patient eventually complained to Uzoh’s colleagues at the Murdishaw Health Centre in Runcorn and he was reported to the General Medical Council.

The father of two has since quit the UK and is now working in Toronto, Canada.

At the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service in Manchester, Uzoh was suspended from practise in Britain for 12 months after he was found guilty of misconduct.

The incidents began between March and May last year when the woman was booked in for an appointment with Uzoh after complaining of abdominal pain.

The woman – known as Patient A – told the hearing: ‘I was really shocked to get that initial message from him because I trusted him as a doctor.

‘If I got that message now there is no way I would respond. I was in a difficult position particularly at that point so seeing him taking an interest was a nice thing.

‘The next morning I woke up and there was a further text message and voicemail message.

‘I remember I was doing my make up and getting ready for work and I saw that he was calling but I didn’t want to pick up. He left a message saying: ‘Hi, I just wanted to hear your voice before I start my day’.

‘Everyday I looked at my phone there was something from him whether it be a text message, missed call or a voicemail message.

‘As soon as I knew the flowers had been sent I knew that they would be from Dr Uzoh – there weren’t many people who knew my address at the time.

You’re being too full on – I’ve only met you once and I was your patient!’
Message from Patient A to Dr Uzoh
‘I felt sick because I live on my own and nobody knew my address apart from my family and I was scared because he had got my records so what was to say he wouldn’t turn up at my door.

‘That feeling lasted several months. It wasn’t long after that I text him to tell him not to contact me but then five months later he contacted me again.

Christopher Hamlet, the lawyer for the GMC, said: ‘She had not given him her number or any indication that she wished to be contacted by him.

‘He obtained her number by looking at her medical records and sent a series of text messages, some consecutive in number and all sent in pursuit of a personal relationship which was sexually motivated.

‘Patient A was at the time vulnerable. She claims at first she was flattered by these messages, however, in due course he went on to bombard her with messages, voicemails and even sent flowers to her home address.

‘She said she felt sick about what happened and was concerned and scared that he had accessed her records and sent flowers to her home.’

One message sent by Patient A to Uzoh said: ‘As flattered as I was at the time it all got too much too quickly.”

The patient eventually complained to Uzoh’s colleagues at the Murdishaw Health Centre in Runcorn (pictured) and he was reported to the General Medical Council.

‘I feel you went too far with getting my address without my permission and it scared me a little and the thought of someone getting it so easily when I have put my trust in doctors is unnerving.

‘Thank you for the flowers but I would appreciate it if you didn’t do that again.’

Another to him said: ‘You’re being too full on – I’ve only met you once and I was your patient!’

Uzoh was not at the tribunal but he filed a written submission claiming his intentions towards the woman were ‘noble.’

He added: ‘My intention was not to prey on the patient or the patient’s vulnerability. I have always been professional toward my patients and never had any issues with NHS England or the GMC.

‘I regret my actions and I apologise for all the stress this may have caused the patient.’

Panel chairman Mrs Jayne Wheat said: ‘It is important that patients have trust in their doctors and in the confidential nature of their medical records, and it is seriously improper for a doctor to seek to pursue a relationship of this kind with a patient, the more so when he persists in it beyond the point when the patient has made clear that his approaches are unwelcome.

‘While the tribunal has found that Dr Uzoh’s behaviour was sexually motivated, there was no evidence that his intentions were obscene or unlawful.’

Read more at Daily Mail.

The federal government on Friday, June 2, 2017 alerted the public to the outbreak of Avian Influenza or bird flu in the FCT and seven states of the country.

Gideon Mshelbwala, the director of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development raised the alert at a meeting with state Commissioners of Agriculture in Abuja on Friday.

Mshelbwala listed the states affected by the outbreak to include Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Nasarawa, Plateau, FCT and lastly Kaduna, which reported a case in May 30.

He said that the disease had spread across 26 states of the federation and the FCT since it started in 2008 affecting 800 farms in no fewer than 123 local government areas.

Mshelbwala, who said that there were no scientifically proven vaccines for bird flu, noted that the Federal Government was adopting quarantine, movement control, stamping out, decontamination and bio-security measures to curb the spread.

The director expressed regret over the poor bio-security practices by some poultry farmers, adding that it was the major reason for the continuous spread of the disease.

According to him, the federal government has paid over N674 million in compensations to 269 farmers across the affected states.

“Our national action plan encourages proper regulation of the poultry industry and enforcement of annual registration of all actors along the poultry value chain including farmers, traders, egg merchants and feed millers.

“It also encourages the creation of veterinary extension services to facilitate the control and proper inspection of poultry and poultry products,’’ he said.

Mshelbwala said that the way forward to the containment of the bird flu was to ban importation of poultry and products, quarantine and bio-security measures, among others.

He, however, warned poultry farmers against illegal vaccination of birds, saying that it was a deadly alternative to the control of the disease.

Since May 2015, Nigeria has experienced a number of communicable disease outbreaks ranging from Lassa Fever, Meningitis, which has claimed over 1,000 lives, and the unfortunate return of polio into the country.

To Whom Much Is Given, Much Is Expected: Why The Three New Faces (Obi, Kanu & Ekweremadu) Of Socio-Political Reawakening In Igbo Land Must Not Be Found Wanting

The leaderships of Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law (Intersociety) and Southeast Based Coalition of Human Rights Organizations (SBCHROs) have carefully appraised the goings on as they concern recent social and political developments in the Southeast Nigeria particularly as they concern Igbo socio-political reawakening and assertion of their rights to existence and ethnic identities with successes trailing last Tuesday’s sit-at-home protest voluntarily organized by IPOB and reformed MASSOB leaderships as a clear case in point.

Another reason behind this joint statement is to remind the trio of Peter Obi, Ike Ekweremadu and Nnamdi Kanu of their existing prestigious status as distinguished Igbo personalities of the year 2016. This reminding advocacy voice is to strongly advise them to always watch their backs and refrain at all times from associating themselves with activities and conducts capable of forcing the Igbo People to look down and disrespect them. They must not make themselves or be seen as demigods and must always be closer to the Igbo People. The concept of power drunkenness and psychology of politics must never be their portion. In other words, to whom much is given, much is expected.

We are particularly appalled and deeply worried over an allegation making the news in the web and social media (i.e. 247UReports) concerning Governor Willie Obiano’s car and cash gifts to Citizen Nnamdi Kanu. According to the said online news report, “Nnamdi Kanu was recently handed over a cash of $50,000 and two SUV cars by Governor Willie Obiano and the gifts were gladly accepted from the giver”. On further enquiry, a dependable and authoritative source told the coalition that “the acceptance of the gifts by Kanu from Governor Obiano was owing to the fact that Governor Obiano has been assisting Nnamdi Kanu’s father while Kanu was in prison”.

The link to the online story is here: https://247ureports.com/2017/05/27/nnamdi-kanu-receives-50000-and-two-suvs-from-obiano/. The publisher, Ikenna Ezenekwe, is a known close ally of Governor Obiano. The jeeps and cash, according to Ezenekwe’s 247UReports of May 27, 2017, “were delivered to Citizen Kanu shortly after his conditional freedom from prison by one Primus Odili, said to be Gov Obiano’s distant relative”..

It must be pointed out clearly here that there is nothing wrong in giving and receiving plain and charitable gifts from a public office holder or a wealthy philanthropist for the advancement of a nonviolent social struggle such as Biafra self determination campaigns, but a lot is morally wrong and socially abominable when such gifts are seen or perceived as politically motivated, ill conceived or evidentially and atrociously escapist. If it is true that Governor Willie Obiano gave out such gifts to Nnamdi Kanu, valued at about N98 million (i.e. N80M for the two SUV cars and N19M equivalent of $50,000), then our immediate appeal to Citizen Kanu is for such gifts to be returned to the Awka Government House with immediacy. If it is not true, then he should direct his IPOB to respond publicly and convincingly on his behalf. The response under demand is grossly belated.

The acceptance of such gifts, if true, will spell doom to the nonviolent pro Biafra campaigns and pose a generational clog and curse for those championing the ongoing pro Biafra agitation. The gifts, if truly given and accepted, can further evoke incurable wrath from the spirits of the 140 innocent, defenseless and unarmed Igbo citizens that were slain under Governor Obiano’s supervision and mobilization on 29th and 30th of May 2016 at Nkpor, Onitsha and Asaba. Mortally, if it is true that such gifts were given and accepted, then the moral rectitude and competence of IPOB under Citizen Nnamdi Kanu to seek culpable and compensatory justices for the slain defenseless and unarmed citizens, numbering not less than, 140 and their beloved families may most likely have been jeopardized (only victims of 29th and 30th of May 2016 massacre at Nkpor, Onitsha and Asaba).

We have insisted and still insist that Governor Willie Obiano must make an open confession and admission of truth regarding his culpable roles and that of his government in the massacre. He must follow it up by constituting a judicial panel or commission of enquiry, to be composed of 70% non State actors and 30% State actors to further unravel the atrocities of 29th and 30th May 2016. The Nigerian Army in Onitsha must publicly disclose where and how they criminally buried dozens of slain innocent Igbo citizens; many of them the army was caught in camera conveying or moving them via their military trucks inside the Onitsha Army Barracks.

What shocks us the more is Governor Willie Obiano’s continued denial of death toll in the said Nkpor, Onitsha and Asaba massacre. The Governor was authoritatively reported to have maintained this stance recently when a Nigerian Army’s kangaroo probe team visited him during which he was reported to have told the team that “nobody was killed at Nkpor and Onitsha on 29th and 30th May 2016 and if they said somebody was killed, I am not aware”. This was disclosed when the so called “army probe team” visited a certain establishment.

The so called “army probe team” never bordered to visit our coalition or the leadership of Intersociety, which thoroughly investigated the referenced massacre. The leaderships of Intersociety and our coalition also never bordered to seek to meet the team, because we see the said army probe team as nothing but “a kangaroo army probe team”, seeking to trace and profile members and relatives of the slain families for purposes of evidence erasure, destruction and self exoneration.

For purposes of refreshing the minds of all and sundry, not less than 140 unarmed and defenseless citizens including those participating or attending church night vigils (i.e. inside St Edmunds Cath. Church Primary School Classrooms located along Umuoji Road, Nkpor), early morning church service returnees and travelers, passers-by, street petty traders, artisans and onlookers were in the late night of 29th and morning and afternoon hours of 30th May 2016; shot and killed by members of the Anambra State Joint Security Taskforce (JTF), comprising soldiers of the Onitsha Military Barracks led by Col Abdullahi Isah Maigari and operationally commanded by Major M.I. Ibrahim of the Military Police.

Other key culprits in the massacre are the Anambra State Police Command led by then DCP OPS, now Commissioner of Police, Johnson Babatunde Kokomo and the Onitsha Area Commander and all DPOs under Onitsha Area Command; Anambra Police SARS led by CSP Bassey Annang; personnel of the Onitsha Navy Post Command, operatives of the SSS, personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, the personnel of the National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency and armed members of the Anambra State Vigilante Services (AVS).

It is further recalled that prior to the State Government supervised massacre, a letter of notification was sent and successfully delivered to the Governor of Anambra State through the then Commissioner of Police, now AIG Hosea Karma (AIG Zone 9, Umuahia). The IPOB’s notification letter duly informed the Obiano Administration of its plan to hold the 2016 Igbo/Biafra Heroes Day near Eke Nkpor at a bulldozed multi plots of land temporarily let out for the event by a concerned property magnet. Following the successful and nonviolent marking of the anniversary in Umuahia and Enugu in 2014 and 2015, Anambra State was chosen as the host venue for 2016 anniversary. The notification letter also clearly disclosed the intent of the event and solicited for security presence from the Government of Anambra State for the purpose of ensuring effective and peaceful crowd control.

Shockingly, the Governor of Anambra State and his Joint Security Taskforce used the notification letter to plan and strategize for violent crackdowns. Unknown to IPOB, Governor Willie Obiano doled out millions of naira from the meager State coffers for logistics and mobilized all the security agencies under his JTF. Signals were sent to the 82nd Division of the Nigerian Army in Enugu for reinforcements and before the late night of 29th of May 2016, all strategic nooks and crannies of the State including all strategic entry and exit roads around Onitsha, Nkpor, Nnewi, Awka and Asaba had been violently blocked by soldiers and Police SARS. As a result, shooting and killing spree targeted at those arriving for the anniversary commenced from 11pm of 29th May and terminated around 2pm of 30th May 2016.

At the end, field reports gathered by Intersociety evidentially showed that not less than 140 citizens were killed, out of them 110 died at Nkpor and Onitsha, while 30 others died at Asaba. Over 130 others were terminally injured: 70 in Onitsha and 60 in Asaba. Several Army Hilux vans carrying scores of dead bodies were caught in camera heading to Onitsha Army Barracks. The bodies of the dead citizens picked by soldiers were later buried in most abominable and heartless manner inside one of the Onitsha Army Barracks’ two cemeteries (in about 15 graves with each containing at least seven shrank and acidified bodies). Their criminal burial took place on Wednesday 1st June 2016; eyewitnesses say, in the presence of one of Governor Willie Obiano’s Commissioners in charge of Public Communications.

About half of those killed in Asaba, numbering not less than 30, dumped at the Federal Medical Center including Citizen Chinedu Udoye were later on 26th June 2016 removed and buried at a certain location around Asaba Airport Road. Amnesty Int’l had in its report, disclosed that “not less than 60 citizens were killed at Nkpor and Onitsha, with at least 70 others injured”. The Report did not include those killed and injured in Asaba. The culpable Government of Anambra and its mobilized security agencies including Nigeria Police Force and Nigerian Army not only boasted and justified the massacre, but also labeled the slain and the IPOB as “miscreants”, “violent and armed” and “armed independent people of Biafra”. Credit: Intersociety 2016/2017.

Governor Willie Obiano had also after the massacre and its allied litany of denials told by his Government made cursed offers including announcement of a N10 million gift to injured victims during his crocodile tear-visit to hospitals where the wounded were being treated. The offer was roundly rejected by IPOB and our coalition. A number of late night raids in private and public clinics and private residences were also carried out by soldiers and Police SARS leading to forceful removal of dead bodies of the slain pro Biafra activists; forcing families and relatives of other slain and injured activists to summarily whisk them out of Anambra State for safety.

Revocation of Nnamdi Kanu’s Prisoner-Of-Conscience Status: Following the conditional release of Citizen Nnamdi Kanu who was named Prisoner-Of-Conscience by our coalition in 2016, following his long detention without formal trial and several disobedience to judicial pronouncements for his freedom by his captors (Federal Government and its SSS), we hereby revoke his Prisoner-Of-Conscience status. The trio of Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwudiwe and David Nwawuisi; alongside Sheik Zaky El-Zaky and his wife-Malama Zeenatu El-Zaky are hereby renamed SBCHROs’ Prisoners-Of-Conscience.

While Sheik El-Zaky and his beloved wife, Malama Zeenatu have been held by SSS without any form of trial or court proceedings or freedom since 14th December 2015, David Nwawuisi and Chidiebere Onwudiwe have remained in detention without trial since October 2015 and June 2016 respectively for un-tried offence of conspiracy to commit treasonable felony, which is lightly bailable and attracts not more than seven years imprisonment on conviction.

Citizen Bright Chimezie’s arrest and incarceration by the Akwa Ibom State Directorate of SSS is complicated and lawless. He was arrested in Uyo by SSS on 16th September 2016 and detained without trial. All efforts by his lawyers and family to see him proved abortive, forcing his lawyers to file a fundamental rights suit in Abuja in which the SSS filed a counter affidavit, saying that he was being held by its Uyo Directorate. Fresh suit was filed before the Uyo Federal High Court and the Uyo SSS flouted an order of the Court and refused to produce before same; leading to the judgment of 24th May 2017, ordering for his unconditional release. Citizen Bright Chimezie has not been released by the Uyo SSS till date; thereby fueling speculations of his possible death in SSS custody.

Citizen Benjamin Madubugwu is denied a Prisoner-Of-Conscience status because of his connection with firearms found in his custody. The prisoner-of-conscience status is strictly meant for those who never used violence (pacifists) or implied as violent citizens in asserting their constitutional, regional and international human rights. In the eyes of Nigeria’s body of laws, Citizen Madubugwu is entitled to possess guns in the category of firearms (two pump action guns) found in his custody provided he operates same with lawful license.

Commendation: The following are worthy of commendation for their priceless and immeasurable roles in the human rights, humanitarian, research, documentation and media advocacy aspects of the nonviolent pro Biafra campaigns in Nigeria so far. They are Amnesty Int’l, SBCHROs, Intersociety, Alaigbo Development Foundation, Igbo Youth Movement, Ike Ekweremadu, Peter Obi, Joe Achuzia, US Embassy in Nigeria, Mike Akuoma, Ugochukwu Chinwuba, Ikechukwu Okoye, Clifford Iloanya, Prince Emeka Onyeso, Okechukwu Nwanguma, Aloysius Attah, Ibuchukwu Ezike, Tochukwu Ezeoke and his Igbo Ekunie group, Justus and Justine Ijeomas, Alex Olisa, Damian Ugwu, Damian Ogudike, Tools & Allied Market and its leadership, Ekwenche Group, USA, Uche Asiegbu, George Onyeibe, Samuel Kamanyoku.

Others are Isaac Umunna and his News Express Online, Daniel and Tim Elombah and their Elomba Reports, Madam Aziza Uko and her Trent Online, Emeka Odugwu and his Odogwu Blog, Chidi Opara and his Chidiopara Reports, Henry Oduenyi and his Nigerian Voice, James Ezema and his Street Reporters, Naija.Com, Nairaland, Barrister Chioma Kate Unini and her Nigerian Lawyer Online, Mazi Odera, Uchenna Madu, Barristers Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Chuks Muoma (SAN).

The rest are Chinwe Umeche, Uzochukwu Oguejiofor, Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Florence Akubilo, Ndidiamaka Bernard; the Galaxy TV and its Southeast crew, Minaj TV, Vanguard Newspaper, Innocent Anaba and his InosReport, Leonard Sobechi of Guardian Newspaper, Senator Iroegbu and Dave Eleke of This Day Newspaper, Today Online, Uncova Online, the Authority Newspaper, the Premium Times, Emmanuel Mayah, Mary Ann Onwuchekwa, Anita Foster, Tony Okafor, the Independent Newspaper, Champion Newspaper, Alphonsus Nweze, Cyprain Ebele, to mention but a few.

Why Igbo Spoke In Unisom On 30th May 2017: The massive reactions of the most Igbo People on 30^th May 2017 by voluntarily shutting down their businesses across the country and beyond the shores of Nigeria for the purpose of honoring their fallen heroes and heroines killed in the 1967-70 Biafra-Nigeria Civil War and others butchered since 1945 is not only a strong message to those behind the decades long butcheries, but also a red card to those who mocked the Igbo People to the effect that Igbo People are not united and can never be united. It is also a red card to those who falsely claimed that Igbo People have no leadership or kingship.

Most importantly, this collective feat also calls for caution particularly on the part of IPOB and reformed MASSOB under Citizens Nnamdi Kanu and Uchenna Madu leadership. That is to say that such massive support must not be taken for granted. Igbo People have no leadership, kingship or oneness so long as there are no credible people in leadership positions or genuine and formidable social cause to fight or agitate for. Once credible leaders or genuine social cause are spotted or found, unity, oneness and credible leadership commands take the centre stage among the Igbo People. That is to say that the same way the Igbo People have hearkened to IPOB and reformed MASSOB’s recent call for a sit-at-home protest, is exactly the same the same Igbo People will turn their back permanently against the likes of IPOB and reformed MASSOB and their leaders once they are seen or perceived as deviants and conformists.

This was why we had on 11th December 2016 named the trio of Peter Obi, Ike Ekweremadu and Nnamdi Kanu as distinguished Igbo personalities for 2016. We found in them great potentials to lead and wriggle Igbo People out of their decades’ long trepidations, agonies, unprovoked attacks and butcheries. We had then counseled them strongly to jealously guide and guard their leadership potentials and resist any attempt to get them rubbished or compromised. Till date, in Anambra State, Peter Obi’s leadership and public governance imprints are next to nothing or second to none.

The trio of Peter Obi, Ike Ekweremadu and Nnamdi Kanu still retain their prestigious distinguished personalities of 2016 status till the end of this year. With this in their hands, they must at all times not disappoint the Igbo People as “new faces of Igbo renaissance or reawakening”. They must understand that the Igbo People are watching them all the time as per wherever they go and whatever they do. They are now like the great mgburuichi and nze-na-ozo people of the Oracular Igbo Society, who on account of their membership of the two highly revered groups; were incapable of associating themselves with evil doing or disappointing themselves and their society. We also welcome Citizen Nnamdi Kanu’s ongoing reconciliatory moves, geared towards mending fences with those in disagreements with others. Such gesture must also be extended to key members of his group’s Directorate of State (DOS) and Coordinating Office of Coordinators (COC) as well the likes of Ekwenche Igbo group in USA.

Signed:

For: Southeast Based Coalition of Human Rights Organizations (SBCHROs)

Comrade Aloysius Attah (+2348035090548)
For: Civil Liberties Organization, Southeast Zone 

Comrade Peter Onyegiri (+2347036892777)
For: Centre for Human Rights & Peace Advocacy 

Comrade Samuel Njoku (+2348039444628)
For: Human Rights Organization of Nigeria 

Engineer Rufus Duru (+2348037513519)
For: Global Rights & Development International 

Comrade Chike Umeh ( +2348064869601)
For: Society Advocacy Watch Project 

Obianuju Joy Igboeli, Esq. (+2348034186332)
For: Anambra Human Rights Forum 

Comrade Alex Olisa(+2348034090410)
For: Southeast Good Governance Forum 

Jerry Chukwuokoro, PhD (+2348035372962)
For: International Solidarity for Peace & Human Rights Initiative 

Tochukwu Ezeoke (+447748612933)
For: Igbo Ekunie Initiative (Pan Igbo Rights Advocacy Group)

Comrade Vincent Ezekwume (+2348171793911)
For: Civil Liberties Organization, Anambra State Branch

Emeka Umeagbalasi(+2348174090052)
For: Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law