City Crime
Group Blames Chieftaincy Squabbles For Insecurity In Rivers Community
A group under the aegies of Concerned Andoni Traditional Rulers, Chiefs and Elders Council, has blamed the unending security challenges that have claimed over 70 lives within the past three years on wrong recognition of the traditional rulers from Ngo Town to Ikuru Town, and the subsequent recognition of King Aaron Miller Ikuru as the occupant of the Andoni first class stool by the state government.
The concerned chiefs and traditional rulers therefore urged the state government to urgently revert the recognition of king Aaron Miller Ikuru as the regent of Andoni traditional king in order to save the lives of Andoni citizens.
The group averred that since the manipulations of the current occupant of the Andoni first class chieftaincy stool by whom he described as the political elites in the area, the peaceful communities of the Andoni Kingdom had been taken over by cultists and made life unbearable to the people.
Addressing journalists at Atahobolo community in Andoni at the weekend, the paramount ruler of Ataho-bolo Community, King A. J. Daniel Owurong-Erumu-mbuban, who spoke on behalf of the group, said the people of Andoni had remained helpless and directionless since the ongoing cultism induced by the political and traditional leadership in the local government area
According to him, since 2017 till date, more than one hundred houses had been burnt, destroyed and looted by criminals, cultists and militants from within the communities in the Area, while over sixty persons had been sent to their untimely grave,
He opined that Asarama, Unyeada, Egendem, Ajaka-jak, Samanga, Ibotirem, Dema and Otuafu communities were the worst affected by the ongoing supremacy cult war in the area and expressed fear that if urgent steps were not taken by the state government to stop what could be described “as gorrila war in Andoni” the communities he said, risked total annihilation.
Owurong-Erumumbuban accused the leadership of the Andoni Council of Chiefs and Traditional Rulers and the political class for being the sole sponsors of the unending cult war in the area, and noted that since the killings and mayhems going on in the area, neither the traditional institution nor the political class had risen publicly to condemn the nefarious acts being perpetuated by the hoodlums in the area.
“It may interest the public to know that, in the past few years, the security situation in Andoni has degenerated to a more despicable level and abysmally, too it is saddening to note that while the situation continued to deteriorate in the past three years,our traditional institution and leaders foisted on the people of Andoni by those who call themselves political class were busy nodding their heads and clapping their hands for the emerging monsters that have being sending our people to their early graves and bringing our ancient communities to the brink of extinction. As we speak, grasses have taken over our homes, which had been vandalized, destroyed, looted or utterly razed.”
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has warned against the practice of scooping fuel from accidented tankers, noting it has led to the loss of many lives and property.
The agency’s Head of Operations in Ibadan, Mr Kadiri Olanrewaju, cautioned during a sensitisation programme on tanker fire accidents, held on Wednesday at Akinyele Local Government Area (LGA) of Ibadan.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was held in collaboration with the Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (OYSEMA) in Akinyele LGA and other stakeholders.
Olanrewaju said Akinyele LGA was selected for the awareness campaign because of its strategic location as a trailer route from the northern to the southern part of the country.
“These agencies felt that it was necessary to bring this important message to critical stakeholders in communities under the Akinyele LGA, where we have major trailer parks.
“The campaign kick-started in Ogun; we will soon move to Osun.
“The focus is to drive strong sensitisation against the scooping of fuel at the grassroots level, especially for local governments along the trailer routes to reduce needless loss of lives and property,” he said.
He charged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other relevant agencies to enforce the laws against underage driving and ensure the proper certification and retraining of drivers.
The Administrative Secretary of OYSEMA, Mrs Ojuolape Busari, said that Community Development Associations (CDAs) were involved in the campaign to reach a larger number of people.
Busari noted that people still scoop fuel from accidented tankers because there had not been any serious punishment attached to the offence.
She, therefore, called for stiff penalties for anyone caught perpetrating the act.
“Apart from the risk of fire outbreak that may occur during the practice, it is stealing, which is a serious offence,” she said.
Earlier, the Executive Chairman of Akinyele LGA, Hon. Akinwole Akinyele, suggested that fuel transportation should be handled through the rail system, while leaving tankers for intra-city fuel transportation.
The chairman called for an urgent review of laws and policies related to fire services and road safety to meet the urgent and modern demands.
He said that the implementation of stricter fuel transportation regulations, vehicle maintenance, drivers’ training and retraining, and safer fuel handling practices remained crucial to the fuel distribution system in Nigeria.
“The attendant costs of tanker fire accidents have been huge, both in terms of the high number of fatalities and the loss or destruction of property, environmental damage, and public infrastructure,” he said.
NAN reports that the event featured technical sessions, lectures, and presentations from the FRSC, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Fire Service, traditional and market leaders, among others.
…To Confer National Honours On Select Lawmakers
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will deliver a presidential address before a joint session of the National Assembly today as part of events marking Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebration.
The event is scheduled to be held in the House of Representatives chamber of the National Assembly Complex, Abuja.
This was confirmed in a statement released on Sunday by the spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Hon. Akin Rotimi.
The statement referenced an internal memorandum issued by the Clerk of the House, Yahaya Danzaria, officially notifying lawmakers of the proceedings.
According to the memorandum, the special joint sitting will begin at 11:00 a.m. with preliminary activities before the arrival of President Tinubu, who is expected at noon.
Democracy Day is observed annually on June 12 in remembrance of the 1993 presidential election, widely regarded as Nigeria’s most credible poll since independence.
The election was won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola but was annulled by the military government led by General Ibrahim Babangida (retd).
The theme for the 2025 celebration is “26 Years of Democracy: Renewing Our Commitment to National Development.”
President Tinubu is attending the event as the Special Guest of Honour and is expected to use the platform to reflect on the state of Nigeria’s democracy and present his administration’s vision for the future.
The session will also feature goodwill messages from former presiding officers of the National Assembly.
Meanwhile, the President will confer national honours on select legislators in what organisers describe as part of efforts to recognise contributions to democratic governance.
The National Assembly views the event as an important marker of Nigeria’s political evolution.“This joint sitting represents a significant moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey,” the statement read.
“It underscores the pivotal role of the National Assembly in safeguarding democratic values, fostering accountability, and advancing national development over the past 26 years of uninterrupted civil rule.”
Lawmakers also used the occasion to urge Nigerians to reflect on the country’s democratic progress and to renew their commitment to national unity and inclusive governance.
“The House of Representatives calls on all Nigerians to embrace the spirit of Democracy Day as a time for reflection, renewed patriotism, and commitment to building a more inclusive, prosperous, and united nation,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has declared today as a public holiday, to commemorate this year’s Democracy Day celebration held every June 12.
June 12 was officially designated as Nigeria’s Democracy Day in 2018, to honour the annulled 1993 presidential election, widely considered the freest and fairest in the nation’s history and won by Chief MKO Abiola.
In a statement announcing the holiday, the Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, on behalf of the Federal Government, congratulated citizens on the occasion of 26 years of uninterrupted democratic rule in the country.
“June 12 represents our historic journey to building a nation where truth and justice reign, and peace is sustained and our future assured,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
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