News
Again, Herdsmen Kill Pregnant Woman In Ekiti …Fayose Battles To Calm Tension
Barely twenty four hours after Governor Ayo Fayose’s peace meeting with Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, farmers and local hunters in the state, suspected herdsmen invaded Orin-Ekiti yesterday, killing a pregnant woman and unleashing injuries on several others.
The meeting which was at the instance of Governor Fayose was conveyed in order to forestall a reprisal attack by Fulani herdsmen following the alleged killing of one of their own, Babuga Dengi, by a suspected Tiv man, whom, according to sources got angry when the dead herdsman invaded his farm with his cattle and destroyed his crops.
The deceased, a Tiv woman was hacked to death by those in the farm settlement located in Orin-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti state, referred to as “Bororo herdsmen” at the town’s Farm Settlement in the early hours of yesterday
. An indigene of the town who is a former Chairman of Ido/Osi Local Government, Prince Sanmi Olubummo, who confirmed the incident in a telephone conversation , disclosed that another victim of the attack was receiving treatment at a hospital.
He said, “The incident happened inside the Orin Farm Settlement. Nobody knows what led to the crisis in the early hours of yesterday but our people said the Bororo herdsmen killed the pregnant woman.”
Olubummo told newsmen that policemen from Ido-Ekiti Divisional Headquarters visited the scene of the killing, saying the situation was calm. Meanwhile, the community has vowed to go ahead with a referendum on the choice of the next Olorin, the stool had been vacant for several years now.
The indigenes are expected to vote “YES” or “NO” on the number of ruling houses in the community. One of the elders of the town, the Onikare of Orin-Ekiti, High Chief Bamidele Fasuyi, said the referendum will go ahead as planned on Saturday despite the killing incident.
But the Regent and the Olorin-in-Council has said it would hold a referendum on Saturday to resolve controversies surrounding the royal stool.
There are three Ruling Houses in the town: Famokiti, Olubummo and Idimehinsuwon. But there is a controversy over the acceptance of Idimehinsuwon as one of the ruling houses.
A statement signed on behalf of the Olorin-in-Council, by the Onikare, High Chief Fasuyi, urged the ruling houses to make their representatives available to witness the referendum.
“The referendum is aimed at the community’s populace who are the stakeholders on the issue of who rules them to publicly express their candid opinions on the matter of who is entitled to rule over them.
“This referendum is at the interest of the whole Orin-Ekiti community,” the statement said.
Meanwhile,the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose is now battling to douse tension created by the reported killing of a herdsman in Oke Ako-Irele, Ekiti State.
He confirmed the report of the killing of the herdsman in one of his tweets.
Pleading for understanding and peace, he tweeted: “I want peace in my state and everybody living here is from Ekiti whether you are Fulani, Tiv, Yoruba or anybody.
“Cow matter can’t cause problem between us. Oke Ako-Irele issue should not be allowed to fester. Cooperate with us and whoever kills would be fished out.’’
The governor confirmed holding an emergency meeting with all stakeholders to prevent a reprisal.
“To prevent reoccurrence, I met with representatives of Fulani herdsmen under the aegis of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, farmers, local hunters, security agencies and the Tiv community in the state,’’ he said in another tweet.
“On Monday night, I was told about the killing of one Fulani man in Oke Ako. They claimed it was a Tiv man that killed the Fulani man.
“I want the killer arrested and prosecuted. I won’t accept killing of anyone here in Ekiti.Be you Yoruba,Fulani, Tiv or Igbo, I must protect your life,’’ he tweeted.
The victim, Mr. Babuga Dengi, was reportedly killed, last Monday in Oke Ako in Ikole Local Government Area of the state.
Amid concerns about a reprisal attack, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, summoned a late night meeting, last Tuesday, to forestall a degeneration of the situation.
He told a meeting of the Fulani and the Benue communities, last Wednesday, in Ado-Ekiti that no bloodshed should be entertained as the killer of the herdsman would be fished out and punished.
Fayose had recently raised the alarm of an impending invasion of his state by Fulani herdsmen, and urged local hunters to rise up to protect the people.
He has also been outspoken in condemning the killings in Benue State by the herdsmen.
Also, a former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode has reacted to the killing of an 8-month pregnant woman by men suspected to be Fulani herdsmen in Ekiti State.
Our correspondent had earlier yesterday reported that herdsmen attacked Orin community in Ekiti in the early hours of yesterday killing a pregnant woman
In a post he shared on his twitter handles, Fani-Kayode, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, wrote, “An 8 month pregnant woman and her unborn baby were slaughtered by Fulani terrorists in Ekiti State yesterday.
“They hacked open her stomach and cut her and baby to pieces. Can anything be more reprehensible and evil than that? “O Lord, fight against those who fight against us.”
News
Reopen Border With Benin Republic, Monarch Begs Tinubu
Oba Hameed Oyelude, the Olowu of Kuta in Ayedire Local Government of Osun, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to reopen the nation’s border with Benin Republic.
Oba Oyelude, who made the appeal in a chat with journalists on Sunday in his palace in Kuta, said the reopening of the border would ease the burden of Nigerians economically.
“At the time the Benin Republic border was closed, the Federal Government was protecting the economy of the country.
“But I want to urge the President to look at the possibility of reopening the border to ease the pain of Nigerians,” he said.
Oba Oyelude also urged Nigerians to be patient with the President, noting that he meant well for the country by removing the subsidy on fuel.
“The gain of the removal of fuel subsidy is coming, but it may not be immediate. And that is why we need to be patient with the President.
“Let us give this administration time. We will surely get there,” the traditional ruler pleaded.
He urged the Federal Government not to completely take every advice and policy of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
Oba Oyelude said although there was nothing wrong in domesticating IMF ideas and policies, but the same must be done in a way that will suit the country.
“There is economic downturn and it is a challenge that we are going through, but I believe we will overcome it as a country,” he said.
News
Anambra: One-Day State Burial Law Excites Bishop
Most Rev. Dr Paulinus Ezeokafor, Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Awka, has called on Anambra residents to embrace the one-day burial law, passed on May 9, 2019,
Ezeokafor said that compliance with the law is beneficial to all, including the rich and the poor.
He made the call during celebrations marking the two years in office of Anambra Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo, in Awka, yesterday.
He commended Soludo for his achievements so far in office and for being a living example of the burial law during the burial rites of his father.
Ezeokafor commended the efforts of the state lawmakers who keyed into the church’s call for a burial law in the state when the church raised it.
He commended Mr Charles Ezeani and Mr Kingsley Iruba, who championed the motion with the support of other lawmakers who orgainsed public hearings towards the actualisation of the Bill.
Ezeokafor said that both the church and the traditional community should embrace the law for the common good of the people.
”If a governor can conduct a burial of a parent in one day, let all of us emulate the step.
“The economic waste in burial for a week or so can be transferred in human development and empowerment than wasteful eating and drinking after which hunger sets in,” Ezeokafor advised.
Front Pix
We’re Determined To Leave Legacy Of Quality Education -Fubara
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has promised to give the best attention to the education sector so that standard and quality learning will never be compromised in the State.
The governor emphasised that in achieving such legacy, schools in the State will be driven with a curriculum that will equip school-aged children to become competitive, innovative and self-reliant.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Governing Council of Rivers State University at Government House in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.
He said: “There is a lot of noise everywhere: people asking what we are doing; that we are not focused, and that we don’t have direction.
”But I want to tell the world that we are focused and aware that we cannot grow if our energies are not channeled to education. Not just education, but purposeful education.
”Education that is creative. Education that gives you independence. We have left the era in the world when you speak too much grammar. We are in such times when it is what you can do with your hands.
”Our purpose for education is that we should bring back our academic programmes to where, at the end of your studies, you don’t need a job but you create jobs. When one creates a job, you automatically employ others. That is what I want this council to see as their task.”
Governor Fubara noted the non-existence of public secondary schools for the male child in the Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
He said such negligence leaves children in that area who have completed primary education, and whose parents cannot afford sending them to far away secondary schools, to roam the streets, and therefore becoming willing tools for criminality.
Governor Fubara assured that such fundamental problem will be addressed by his administration as a measure to curb the negative impression associated with Diobu axis of Port Harcourt.
The governor said he trusts in the capacity of the members of the Governing Council of Rivers State University to bring about positive change in the institution while also contributing their quota to improving the general education standard in the State.
”I charge you, not just in terms of administering the affairs of the university, but let us add something different from the normal things that we already have to see new things.”
In her response, on behalf of the other members, the Pro-Chancellor of the Governing Council of Rivers State University, Justice Mary Odili (rtd), thanked the governor for finding them worthy to serve in such capacity.
Justice Odili assured they will work assiduously as a team to solve the problems that agitate the mind of the governor and ensure their contributions form part of the legacy that will be bequeathed by his administration.
The members included Justice Mary Odili (rtd) as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council with Barrister Mela Oforibika and Chukwuma Chinwo, Esq.
Others were Adata Bio-Briggs, Esq., Dr. Jonathan Nimi Hart, Ngo Martins-Yellowe, Dr. Nancy Nwankwo, Dr. Igoni William-Park, and Mr. Ogbugbu Barisua.
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