I don’t hate Niger Delta —– Obasanjo replies Clark

December 28, 2021 | anaben

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has written a letter of reply to Chief Edwin Clark, saying that he had never shown anger or distraught to the Niger Delta region or any part of the country.

Obasanjo said this after Clark alleged that Obasanjo still hated the people of Niger Delta like before.

Clark, the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Ijaw National Congress, INC, had sent an open letter to Obasanjo.

In the letter, Clark referred to Obasanjo’s comments that the oil found in the Niger Delta does not belong to the people of the region and said such comments signified his continuous arrogant stance and disposition against Niger Delta.

This was at a peace and security parley convened by the Global Peace Foundation and Vision Africa in Abuja where Obasanjo attacked the National Secretary of the INC, Ebipamowei Wodu.
However, in his reply in a letter dated December 28, Obasanjo said what Clark called an outburst is not one but his(Obasanjo’s) way of getting people/listeners’ attention.

In the letter titled “My response to the open letter by Clark”, Obasanjo said: “Let me proceed with the most basic constitutional fact that you cannot have two entities in a sovereign State.”

He also insisted that those who buy crude from Nigeria enter into contractual relationship with Nigeria and not the Niger Delta.

In addressing the issue of hatred for the region, he wrote, “I have never shown any anger, distraught with Niger Delta region nor any part of Nigeria.

“Some of the languages you have deployed to describe me in your letter are offensive, uncouth and I totally and completely rejected them.

“I am not inconsistent, hypocritical, unstatesman, and nor am I anybody’s lackey.

“You use your own yardstick to judge others. I hope you think and adjust. Negotiation achieves better results than dictation.”

Below is the full letter:

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“Boko Haram Killed Innocent Citizens Because Of Buhari’s Visit To Maiduguri” – Adesina Reveals

December 28, 2021 | anaben

The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has revealed that Boko Haram killed many innocent citizens in Maiduguri because of the proposed visit of his principal to Borno State.

Speaking on Channels TV on Sunday night, Adesina opines that Boko Haram attacked the Maiduguri International Airport last week to scare off Buhari, who was to visit the state.

The presidential aide said despite the attack and killings, Buhari still went ahead with the visit.

He said, “It was a sort of scaremongering. They wanted to frighten the president away. But they have forgotten that this president is a retired general.

“They’ve forgotten that he is a man who can stand on his own. They thought they could succeed in getting the president to cancel that visit.

“That was why they did what they did. But you see way the president still went ahead with the visit and from all indications it was a very successful visit.

“It is sad that some people lost their lives in that attack. But it shows you the cowardly nature of those behind those attacks,” Adesina added

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I Have Never Heard Of An Arrest In A Mosque – Actress Chinonso Arubayi Reacts To Nwosu Arrests

December 27, 2021 | anaben

Nollywood actress, Chinonso Arubayi, has said that she has never heard of anyone being arrested in a mosque.

The mother of one said this in reaction to the arrest of former governorship candidate in Imo State, Uche Nwosu. Nwosu, the son-in-law of former Imo governor, Rochas Okorocha, who was arrested by security operatives at a church service at his home town, Eziama Obieri.

“I have never heard of an arrest in a mosque. Police shooting in a church during a post burial service of his mum?” Nonso wrote. “This is really sad. What’s the difference between security operatives and unknown gunmen? Why the hell is this country upside down.” she added.

Uche Nwosu Regains Freedom

December 27, 2021 | anaben

The Imo state 2019 governorship candidate of the Action Alliance, AA, Uche Nwosu has regained freedom, hours after his arrest in Imo state.

Recall that Nwosu was arrested yesterday at St Peter’s Anglican Church by security operatives. Reacting to his freedom, Chikezie Nwadike, his spokesperson in a statement said that Nwosu was never invited by anyone before his arrest yesterday.

Read the full statement below: “This is to inform the general public, friends and well-wishers, supporters and sympathizers that Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, who was abducted by security agencies while observing church service at St Peter’s Anglican Church Umunwokwe Village Eziama-Obaire Nkwerre LGA, has regained his freedom and released unconditionally. He never spent a night in their custody as every effort was put in place to get him out.

“Recall the ugly incident that took place yesterday, 26th December 2021, at St Peter’s Anglican Church as security operatives swooped him inside the church during the outing service of his mother’s burial and whisked him away amidst sporadic shootings and harassment of the congregation.

“I have spoken with him and he extended his greetings to all of us out there. While we await a Police report on the reasons for the abduction and arrest, we call on everyone to remain calm and focused because God is in charge of the whole situation.

“Ugwumba Uche Nwosu is a perfect gentleman who has a great deal of respect for constituted authorities and has never for once caught up in civil disobedience. There was never an invitation and if anyone says otherwise, let the person come forth with evidence.”

Uzodimma has no hand in Uche Nwosu’s disappearance —- Emelumba

I’ll take legal action after 24 hours – Okorocha says concerning Nwosu’s arrest

December 27, 2021 | anaben

The former governor of Imo state and the Senator representing Imo West Senatorial District, Rochas Okorocha, has given the police 24 hours to disclose the offence of his son-in-law, Uche Nwosu, who was arrested last Sunday.

Reacting in Owerre, Okorocha said that 24 hours was enough time legally for the police to make public the offence of Nwosu. He warned that if the police failed to do that, he (Okorocha) would take legal action to demand his release.

His words: “I am going to wait for 24 hours to know what Nwosu has done. We want to know his offences. 24 hours is enough for the police to do that which is legal. They should let the world know about his offences and failure to do that I will take legal action to demand his release.”

Nwosu’s supporters have also been expecting that their boss could have been granted bail based on personal recognition and his status in society.

According to Okorocha, “Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, my wife and daughter were at the church outing services, when a group of men armed and in police uniform rushed into the church and started shooting in the course of their activities they pushed down my wife and torn my daughter cloth.

“There was no invitation or warrant of arrest from the security and the way it happened it gave us the feeling of kidnap. In the process, many were injured. We watched Nwosu dragged into the bus carrying Imo govt number. My people identified them as the security agents from the government house.

“I got the state commissioner of Police who said Nwosu was arrested on the order of the IGP, what got us surprised was how Nwosu was dragged to the bus one still wonders what story the Imo state govt has framed up against Nwosu, and the IGP, I know could not have done that except for a high level of misinformation.

“Uzodimma has shown tremendous hate on me and my family why should any sane person arrest one in church outing service of his late mother.

“You recall last week Uzodimma said he was going to announce the names of those involved in insecurity in the state. Hope Uzodimma is the hating governor of Imo state that has deceived Abuja, IGP to go and arrest Nwosu. We wait for Uzodimma, on the 3rd of January to point out those who are involved in the insecurity.”

Also reacting, the Imo state government, through the state commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said: “Okorocha is in panic and trying to weep up sentiment. A man who looted the state dry. He should wait for due process to take place since he now knows it’s the security agencies that arrested Nwosu.

“Okorocha is indicting himself and his beginning to talk incoherently and it will not save him. There is no need to play politics with the arrest.

“The best advice I want to give him is that he should stop panicking and there is no need govt be involved in the arrest of Nwosu. The next thing Okorocha should do is to wait for the outcome of the police arrest.”

Uzodimma has no hand in Uche Nwosu’s disappearance —- Emelumba

Uche Nwosu was arrested, not kidnapped

December 27, 2021 | anaben

A police source has revealed that the son-in-law of Former governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, Uche Nwosu was arrested by police officials from Abuja.

Special Force Unit from the office of the Inspector General of Police arrested Uche Nwosu

Uche Nwosu were arrested on Sunday at St Peter’s Anglican church at Eziama Obieri in the Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state while he and his family members were on an outing service after the burial of their mother, Jemimah Nwosu.

Gunmen abduct traditional ruler of Mbutu, Imo

Uzodimma has no hand in Uche Nwosu’s disappearance —- Emelumba

December 27, 2021 | anaben

There was panic in Imo State on Sunday following the alleged kidnap of Uche Nwosu, the son-in-law to a former governor of the state, Rochas Okorocha. He was whisked away from a church service at his hometown, Eziama Obieri in the Nkwerre Local Government Area of the state.

Nwosu and his family were at St Peter’s Anglican church for a thanksgiving service when the gunmen, who operated in an Armoured Personnel Carrier and Hilux vans, invaded the area.

They shot indiscriminately, then proceeded to take their target away, while his security operatives watched without resisting the gun-wielding persons.

While some of Nwosu’s associates suspect that he was kidnapped, others speculated that his arrest was masterminded by the state governor, Hope Uzodinma.

However, the state commissioner for Information and strategy, Declan Emelumba, has denied the speculation that the governor had a hand in what happened.

He had no idea as to whether it was an arrest or a kidnap incident. He however maintained that it was “ridiculous” to allege that the governor had a hand in the disappearance of Nwosu.

Breaking: Gunmen kidnap Imo chief priest

2023: Group vows to drag Akpabio into presidential race

We will not rest until Akpabio joins in the 2023 presidential race ---- Group

December 26, 2021 | anaben

A political pressure group, Senator Godswill Akpabio For Common Good, SGACG, has urged the Minister, Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio to join in the 2023 presidential race.

The group also called on Nigerians to assist them in persuading the Uncommon Transformer to declare interest in the presidency as from the year 2022.

The call was contained in a Christmas message issued by the group and endorsed by its National Coordinator, Dr Jibril Tafida, in Abuja.

According to the group, “We are a group of volunteers, united under the banner of Senator Godswill Akpabio for Common Good( SGACG). We heartily rejoice with all Nigerians on this occasion of Christmas and express our gratitude to God for sparing our lives to witness this special day.

“All said and done, we wish to convey an important message on this special day:

” We call on Nigerians to join hands with our group in urging the Niger Delta Affairs Minister, to aspire for political office in 2023. The year 2022 should offer a special opportunity for Nigerians from all walks of life to join the SGACG in persuading the Minister to actively participate in the general elections of 2023.

“Regardless of ethno-regional or religious affinities, Nigerians should come together and speak with one voice and rally round Senator Godswill Akpabio, as nationalist, with goodwill all over the nation to aspire for a higher elective office in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.

“His sterling records of achievements during his sojourn as Akwa Ibom State governor and his legislative activism as Senate Minority Leader have made him well-cut out for a higher elective office, especially that of the President. We won’t rest on our oars until we successfully convince Senator Akpabio to join the 2023 race and leave his footprints on the sands of Nigeria’s democratic history.

“The time is ripe for Nigerian men and women of good conscience to join million others in the SGACG train, to convince Akpabio to step out for higher national service; because he has all it takes in terms of leadership abilities and top-level connections at the domestic and international levels.

“Lastly, we urge Nigerians to use the spirit of Christmas as an opportunity for promoting tolerance, love for one another and brotherhood beyond other related barriers”.

2023 Presidency: We’ll sue you to court if you fail to contest, Group tells Tinubu

I’ll keep doing my best till May 2023 I will leave office – Buhari

December 23, 2021 | anaben

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari yesterday in Maiduguri, Borno State, assured that his administration will not relent in giving its best for the development of the country until when he’d leave seat on May 2023. He promised to hand over as stipulated by the Constitution.

The President gave this speech after the commissioning of Oriental Energies Resource Ltd Hanger, Muhammadu Indimi Distance Learning Centre and an International Conference Centre donated to the University of Maiduguri by business mogul, Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi.

President Buhari also commissioned the Tijjani Bolori Memorial Secondary School and the first fly-over in Borno State, Custom Roundabout (3.5km) with a stretch of 10 km Gamboru Ngala Road constructed by the state government.

The President in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Chief Femi Adesina last night said, “ I know I swore by the Constitution, and I will leave in 17 months. I pray that the person that will take over from us will also follow the targets of securing the country and building the economy.

“Without securing the country, you cannot grow the economy.”
The president also called on Nigerians to commend the performance of his administration, comparing the state of the country’s security, economy and corruption before he came in and how it is now.

“We have a great country,” he said, “and we thank God for giving us so many resources. But we need to develop our resources.”

The president noted that one way to sustain development was by empowering the people.

Concerning the security in the North West, he regretted that it was the same people who lived together, shared the same culture and outlook that were now stealing, kidnapping and killing one another.
He however warned that the military will come down hard to stabilize the situation.

“I am highly impressed with what I have seen at this state-of-the-art Centre for Distance Learning and Auditorium sited here, the University of Maiduguri. I am told that this international conference hall has 1,300 seats. The high-quality standard of this edifice is major contribution by Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi. This intervention will benefit not only students from Borno and the North East but also students from all parts of Nigeria.

“For the Oriental Energy Resources Hangar which I commissioned, it will welcome and offer support services to aircraft and pilots involved with Humanitarian Air Services,” the President noted.

President Buhari did not fail to commend Prof. Babagana Zulum, Governor of Borno, for his work and efforts in two years, noting that he had visited the state state earlier in June to commission developmental projects.
Governor Zulum in turn appreciated the President for honoring the state, adding that Alhaji Indimi’s contributions to the development of the state showed his love for his people.

“Words cannot convey our gratitude for the statesmanship, “ he said.

Governor Zulum added that, in recognition of the contributions of Alhaji Indimi, the state had honoured him by renaming the Damboa Road after him, now Alhajji Muhammadu Indimi Road.

In his remarks, Alhaji Indimi said he was motivated to build the Distance Learning Centre and the International Conference Centre to encourage education in the state.

“I believe the centre will help in delivering training and skills as well as encourage those who will be taking lessons from remote places,” he said.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Aliyu Shugaba, thanked President Buhari for honoring the invitation and Alhaji Indimi for the contribution.

Buhari leaves Abuja for Maiduguri