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Soberekon Tasks Buhari On National Cattle Corporation
Ijaw strongman and rights activist, Dr. Sokari Soberekon has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to establish a Nigerian National Cattle Corporation (NNCC) and channel cattle revenue into national development if he wants cattle colonies to be a reality.
Reacting to the issue of cattle colonies being proposed by the federal government, Soberekon, who is also the Senior Advocate of the Niger Delta (SAND) described the establishment of cattle colonies.
The elder statesman said that cows were gathered from the Nigerian forest by the herdsmen just as crude oil is extracted from the forest by the oil men, noting that no man urinated in the South for crude oil to come while no woman in Nigeria had ever given birth to a cow before.
He said if the federal government could set up the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to manage and coordinate the sale of crude oil which is produced in the Niger Delta and use the money to develop the entire country, the federal government should also set up the Nigerian National Cattle Corporation (NNCC) to manage and coordinate the cattle business and use the revenue accruing from it to run the nation’s economy as it is the case with crude oil.
Soberekon, who is famous for making former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari to approve oil derivation for the oil producing states in 1981, after former Governor of Midwestern Region, Late Prof. Ambrose Ali failed to achieve that through the courts, suggested that President Buhari can give cattle derivation to the cattle- producing states.
He however advised the governors of Rivers and Bayelsa States, Nyesom Wike and Seriake Dickson not to donate any part of Ogoni Land which oil spill has destroyed or Oloibiri which oil exploration has left in ruins to the herdsmen as cattle colonies until the Federal Government nationalizses cattle rearing by establishing a corporation to manage it.
He further advised Governor Wike not to give Bonny sea to the herdsmen, warning that the cattle would drown there and obstruct navigation.
Frowning at the recent killing of about 73 people in Benue State by Fulani herdsmen, So berekon said he believed that by now the army must have introduced a special programme in Benue State to quench the violence there, be it Operation Cow Clap or any other one, just as they recently introduced Operations Crocodile Smile and python Dance in the South-South and South-East respectively.
Soberekon advised President Buhari to quickly restructure Nigeria and forget about running for, or holding any elections next year.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.