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Buhari Must Go, Christians Demand …CAN Embarks On Nationwide Protest …As President Meets Trump In US,Today

Published

6 years ago

April 30, 2018

Some Catholic priests, early yesterday, embarked on a peaceful protest in Akure, Ondo State, against the disheartening killings in the Middle Belt and other parts of Nigeria, insisting “Every Soul Matters”, and calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to take responsibility for the carnage and vacate office.
The demonstration comes days after suspected herdsmen stormed St. Ignatius Catholic Church, Ukpor-Mbalom Parish, Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State, killing two Catholic priests and 17 parishioners.
The deceased were members of the parish who were in the church to attend the 5:30am Mass and burial ceremony.
Meanwhile, the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign.
The CBCN urged President Buhari to choose the part of honour by “stepping aside to save the nation from total collapse.”
The CBCN made the call in a communique signed by its President, Most Rev. Augustine Akubeze, and Secretary, Most Rev. Camillus Umoh, last Thursday.
The bishops, in the communique titled, “When will this barbarism end?” condemned the incessant attacks by the suspected herdsmen, whom they said had turned the country into a massive graveyard.
They also noted that the rate of insecurity in Nigeria had become an embarrassment in the international community while describing the killing of the priests in the Gwer East Local Government Area of Benue State, last Tuesday, as being “carefully planned.”
The communique read: “That our two priests, Fr. Joseph Gor and Fr. Felix Tyolaha, along with their parishioners were waylaid in the course of the celebration of the Holy Mass early in the morning, suggests very clearly that their murder was carefully planned. This wicked act cannot be said to be a revenge attack (as is often claimed).
“Whom have these priests attacked? Indeed, we have just discovered that on January 3, this year, Fr. Gor tweeted, ‘We are living in fear. The Fulani are still around here in Mbalom (where they (priests) were killed). They refuse to go. They still go grazing around. No weapons to defend ourselves.’
“Their desperate cries for security and help went unheeded by those who should have heard them. They could have fled but, true to their vocation, they remained to continue to serve their God unto death.
“We are sad. We are angry. We feel totally exposed and most vulnerable. Faced with these dark clouds of fear and anxiety, our people are daily being told by some to defend themselves.
“But defend themselves with what? The Federal Government, whose primary responsibility it is to protect lives, for its part alleges that those who ask the people to defend themselves are inciting them to take the laws into their own hands. But how can the Federal Government stand back while its security agencies deliberately turn a blind eye to the cries and wailing of helpless and harmless citizens who remain sitting ducks in their homes, farms, highway and now, even in sacred places of worship?
“In spite of several calls on the President in the last two years to reconfigure his security apparatus and strategy, which the President has deliberately placed in the hands of the adherents of only one religion and the lack of confidence expressed by the CBCN in the security agencies, the bloodletting and destruction of homes and farmlands had increased with intensity and brutality.
“We are sad and fear that the clock is ticking. The bomb must be defused quickly before it explodes.
“Since the President, who appointed the heads of the nation’s security agencies has refused to caution them even in the face of the chaos and barbarity into which our country has been plunged, we are left with no choice but to conclude that they are acting a script that he approves of. If the President cannot keep our country safe, then he automatically loses the trust of the citizens.
“He should no longer continue to preside over the killing fields and mass graveyard that our country has become. Repeated calls from us and many other Nigerians on the President to take very drastic and urgent steps to reverse this ugly tragedy that threatens the foundation of our collective existence and unity as a nation have fallen on deaf ears.
“It is clear to the nation that he has failed in his primary duty of protecting the lives of the Nigerian citizens. Whether this failure is due to inability to perform or lack of political will, it is time for him to choose the part of honour and consider stepping aside to save the nation from total collapse.
“Government should encourage and empower citizens to secure themselves and their environments. This is not the time to disarm people with legally procured weapons of self defence.
In Markudi,the Christian Association of Nigerian, CAN, has called for the immediate resignation of President Muhammadu Buhari over his inability to tackle the ceaseless herdsmen killings and security challenges confronting the country.
The association also appealed to the international community to intervene in the crisis to save the country from relapsing into a religious crisis stressing that the attack on the Church in Benue was a jihad that should be stopped.
Speaking at a peaceful procession organised by the Benue State chapter of CAN, Chairman of the chapter, Rev. Akpen Leva who led the procession, which had participants baring placards with several inscriptions including, “President Buhari resign now”, “enough of the genocide in Benue, “arrest the leadership of Miyetti Allah” and “Benue State” and “self defence is the answer” noted that killings had become a source of physical and mental agony for the people of the state.
Rev. Leva said, “the barbaric mindless and well planned massacre of Benue people has no doubt brought tears running down the chicks of everybody in Benue State.
“We as CAN, wrote to the federal Government of Nigeria on the matter no answer or response was received. It is a fact that the silence and the indecision of the federal government is rather an encouragement to the militant herdsmen to perpetrate all these evil upon the people of Benue State.
“We are convinced that the Federal Government is acting the script of Miyetti Allah.
The President, Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Dr. Samson Ayokunle, had, last Wednesday, directed all Christians in Nigeria to embark on nationwide protest over the murder of the priests and 17 worshippers.
The Christian body also declared Sunday (yesterday) a National Day of Protest against what it described as “unending killings in the country,” urging Christians in Nigeria to hold peaceful protests within their church premises.
At the Holy Ghost Catholic Church in Wadata, most of the parishioners, especially women, neither wore necklaces nor earrings as a sign of anger and grief
The Kogi State chapter of CAN staged a peaceful protest as ordered by the national body.
The protests, carried out in various church premises, were aimed at drawing the attention of the Federal Government to the need to step up actions against the incessant killings going on in parts of the country.
The placard-carrying protesters with various inscriptions called for concerted efforts to stop the spate of killings before people start to take up arms to defend themselves.
Kogi State Chairman of CAN, Bishop John Ibenu, who spoke with newsmen after the protest at his Chapel of Freedom Church in Lokoja, said the protests were peaceful in the state.
He called on the Federal Government to set up a Truth and Reconciliation Commission over the menace of herdsmen attacks in the country.
Ibenu said, “It is a national day of prayer and protest, Christians don’t protest; if we have to, that means the issues have reached the peak.
“We spend time to pray for the nation and Kogi State and also for the future.
“Kogi State CAN, in obedience to the directive of national CAN, observed the day in our church premises.
But, Imo State chapter of CAN boycotted the order to protest the killing of the two Catholic priests.
All the churches that one of our correspondents visited yesterday in the state capital observed their normal church services without any protest, as reportedly directed by the national leadership of CAN.
Speaking to our correspondent, the CAN Chairman in the state, Apostle Godson Ibeji, said that the chapter was not formally informed via any means of communication.
The CAN chairman said that apart from newspaper publications, there was no correspondent from the CAN national secretariat informing them to march round the city in protest against the killing of Christians in North Central of the country.
Ibeji said, “There was no official communication or correspondent asking Imo CAN to march round the city in protest against the killing of two Catholic priests and other Christians in Benue State.
Meanwhile, the Methodist Diocese of Ereko has called on the Federal Government to redouble efforts to halt massive killings in Benue, Taraba and other parts of the country.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 2nd synod of Methodist Diocese of Ereko held at the Wesley Church, Ikoyi, in Lagos and signed by Rt. Rev. Olukayode Adeogun, Bishop of Ereko and Lay President, Mr .Gori Ogunyemi.
The communique viewed with grave concern the state of affairs in Kaduna, Benue, Taraba, Yobe, Kogi Adamawa states and other parts of the country, saying it was saddened at shortcoming in the fight against insurgency which had not shown any signs of abating.
It, therefore, called on the Federal Government to redouble efforts to secure the release of the remaining 113 Chibok girls and Miss Leah Haribu, who was one of the girls kidnapped from Government Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State who is yet to be released by her captors on the reason that she refused to be converted to Islam.
The Synod also asked God-fearing and committed Christians to contest for offices at all levels in 2019 while also encouraging every Christian to ensure that they register and collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) in fulfillment of their civic responsibilities.
The synod with the theme: “Strive for Peace and Holiness,” a gathering of ministerial and lay leaders of the church urged all Christians to live a life that reflect the virtue of peace and holiness which Jesus came to this world in human form to exhibit and thereby restored to humanity the glory which was lost in the Garden of Eden.
The Synod also lent its voice to the several calls for restructuring of the nation, believing that if attended to, it would take the wind out of the sails of the various insurgencies in the country.
The Synod frowns at lack of accountability and double standards at various levels of governance, hate speeches and the influx of illegal arms which were threatening the stability of the country.
The Synod commended the Lagos State Government for the opening of a mobile cancer centre for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, signing of the preservation and promotion of Yoruba language bill as a bold step in re-emphasizing cultural values, but noted that the present Cleaner Lagos Initiative had not met with the expectations of waste disposal in Lagos.
It called on the state government to address the obvious inadequacies to avoid the outbreak of cholera and other communicable diseases.
The synod said while promising not to cease to fulfill its role as the prophetic voice and vanguard of truth and righteousness in the nation, it would commit itself to continue to pray for peace and progress of the country.

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Be Firm In Fight Against Oil Theft, Fubara Tells CNS …As Navy Moves Training Hqtrs To Rivers …Seizes 14 Vessels In Three Months

Published

6 days ago

April 26, 2024

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has encouraged the Nigerian Navy to be firm in the fight against all forms of economic sabotage, particularly crude oil theft, in the nation’s waterways.
The Governor noted with delight the positive results already recorded by the Navy in the State due largely to the tremendous support it has received from his administration.
Governor Fubara spoke when he hosted on courtesy visit, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla with his delegation of top officers of Navy High Command at Government House in Port Harcourt,yesterday.
The Rivers State Governor stated that Nigeria was facing myriad of crises, including economic challenges, rising insecurity and criminal activities that threaten the national economy, which should not be overlooked.
He said, “We are working together, we will give you all the support to make sure that you deliver on your mandate.
”And what is the mandate? You were appointed at a time when our country is facing a lot of crises, and your duty, among others, include to reduce, if it cannot be eliminated completely, the criminalities perpetrated on the waterways; oil theft and others.
”And I am happy that they are positive and commendable records of achievement so far, in the course of your tenure.”
Governor Fubara said the good news of reduced level of oil theft in Rivers State is evidence of the many positive things that are happening in the State beyond the much hyped negativity, and assured that such positive achievements will be sustained.
The State Chief Executive insisted: “The success of the Nigerian Navy in our State, in the areas of oil theft, is because the State Government has given you all the necessary support.
”We have collaborated with the command here. We supported them morally, and with all the necessary logistics.
”We have also maintained good relationship with the communities to make sure that whatever it is that is required for these operations to be successful were granted. I am happy to be associated with these very laudable achievements.”
Governor Fubara said: “So, I have to say that I am happy that the Chief of Naval Staff, today, is commending the success of the exercise. He is commending the doggedness of the men in fighting oil theft, not just in the Niger Delta, but particularly in our State.
”I want to assure you that we will continue to give them the support, and discourage any act that would be a sabotage to the economy of our State.”
Governor Fubara said that Rivers State was not named in error: there are several water channels that can boost the operations of the Navy. This is why we are requesting that the Nigerian Navy move all its bases to the State.
”It was not a mistake they called it Rivers State. It is surrounded with all forms of rivers. You want the Atlantic region, you can get it here. You want those small creeks, you can also get it here. Maybe, if you want an Island, you can also find it here.
”So, it is proper if we work with you and you have all that is required within this geographic region, to have all your bases relocated to Rivers State,” he said.
He further said: “We must continue to give you the necessary support to make sure that you succeed. I am happy to also say that, as the Governor of the State by the special grace of God, we are still here, not minding the dramas here and there. We will not let our people down in ensuring that we protect their interest.
”We will support the genuine course of governance; the protection of lives and provision of basic amenities. And these can only be achieved when there is a peaceful environment.
”And the peaceful environment can only come when there is a collaboration with security agencies to prevent crimes, and protect lives and property of residents.”
In his address, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ikechukwu Ogalla, reiterated that the Nigerian Navy and Rivers State are like conjoined twins who cannot do without each other.
This is because, he said, they needed collaboration on various aspects of their activities ranging from training, operations, logistics, adding that Rivers State is key to their performance.
”My purpose of coming here today are three folds. The first is to inform His Excellency that on Saturday, we are graduating a set of former civilians who have been trained at our Basic Training School, Onne, and are graduating to join the ranks of the Nigerian Navy as ratings in order to beef up our strength.
”The second reason is to first appreciate the Governor and the entire Rivers State Government for the schools they donated to us: the Ambassador Nne Krukrubo Model Secondary School at Eleme in Eleme Local Government Area, and the Model Secondary School, Egbelu in Oyigbo Local Government Area.”
Vice Admiral Ogalla stated further: “We also want to use this opportunity to inform His Excellency that following that donation, and based on our strategic plan of moving our facilities to areas where we have enough space to be able to carryout out duties, we have renovated the school at Eleme.
”We are happy to report, today, that the erstwhile location of Headquarters of Naval Training Command, Lagos, is moving to that particular school location in Eleme, tomorrow.’
Speaking on the operational successes recorded thus far, he said that propelled by the charge given to them by President Bola Tinubu, the Nigerian Navy, under his watch, has impounded 14 vessels caught to be conveying stolen crude oil and several other individuals arrested, adding that investigations into their culpability were ongoing.
”I am here today to report Sir, that, with the “Operation Delta Sanity”, launched in January, 2024, we have been very successful, and within the period, we have recorded tremendous successes and achievements.
”Over 14 large crude carrying vessels have been arrested within that period. Most of them are at various levels of investigation. We have also arrested several barges and other companies and organizations that are involved in oil theft.
”As a result of the operations, we are happy to report that there has been tremendous improvement in terms of security in the maritime environment,” Ogalla added.

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118 Inmates Escape As Rainstorm Destroys Niger Prison

Published

6 days ago

April 26, 2024

The Tide

A heavy downpour has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centre in Suleja, Niger State, resulting in extensive damage to the facility and facilitating the escape of 118 inmates.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by the spokesperson, Federal Capital Territory Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Adamu Duza, yesterday.
Duza noted that the downpour which occurred on Wednesday night, caused severe damage to the custodial centre’s infrastructure, including a breach in the perimeter fence, which allowed the inmates to flee.
However, 10 fleeing inmates had been recaptured following a swift response by the NCoS in collaboration with other security agencies.
Duazu promised that efforts were ongoing to recapture the remaining fleeing inmates, adding that their database would soon be made known to the public.
Recognising the vulnerability of ageing facilities, many of which were built during the colonial era, Duza acknowledged that the NCoS was committed to modernising its infrastructure.
The statement further noted that the Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Francis John, assured the public that the situation was under control and urged them to carry on with their daily activities without fear.
The public was encouraged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities or sightings of escaped inmates to the nearest security agency.
The statement read in part, “A heavy downpour that lasted for several hours on the night of Wednesday, April 24, 2024, has wreaked havoc on the Medium Security Custodial Centres, Suleja, Niger state, as well as surrounding buildings, destroying parts of the custodial facility, including its perimeter fence, giving way to the escape of 118 inmates of the facility.
“The service has immediately activated its recapturing mechanisms, and in conjunction with sister security agencies, has so far recaptured 10 fleeing inmates and taken them into custody, while we are in hot pursuit to recapture the rest.
“The service is not unmindful of the fact that many of its facilities were built during the colonial era and that they are old and weak. The Service is making frantic efforts to ensure that all aging facilities give way to modern ones.
“The Controller of Corrections, FCT Command, Francis John, wishes to assure the public that the service is on top of the situation and that they should go about their normal businesses without fear or hindrance.”
Meanwhile, the United States has underscored the significant challenge of overcrowding in Nigerian prisons.
The US, according to its ‘2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Nigeria,’ published on its website on Tuesday, noted that numerous correctional facilities were grappling with a staggering 50 per cent increase in the number of inmates beyond their intended capacity, revealing a systemic issue.
Furthermore, it disclosed that a notable proportion of these prisons, some with histories dating back 70 to 80 years, faced difficulties in meeting even the most fundamental standards of living.

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Rivers’ll Be Known For Peace, Not Crisis -Fubara

Published

3 weeks ago

April 10, 2024

The Tide

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that peace has prevailed because he draws strength from God to resist insults and tantrums thrown at him while frustrating attempts by some disgruntled persons who wanted to plunge the State into unending crisis.
The Governor also said that because he has anchored his Government on promoting peace, the enabling atmosphere has been provided for investments and sustainable development to flourish.
Governor Fubara made the assertion when he received a delegation of members of the Bishops and Gospel Ministers’ Association International Incorporated, Rivers State Chapter, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Represented by the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr George Nwaeke, Governor Fubara said while most people took his meekness for weakness, his stance on peace has unarguably enhanced harmonious atmosphere of concord as residents sleep with their two eyes closed, and investors and shareholders are happy with the returns on investment.
He said, “Before, what they hear of Rivers State is that they are fighting, and some genuine investors will not come. Some people even ask you: How are you coping in Rivers State?
“But now”, he asserted: “The Governor has brought about a lot of changes in the State. One of the most important things is that he has changed the negative narrative. It is no longer Rivers of blood. It is now Rivers of peace.
“We are enjoying our lives here. Why? Because there is a change in the narrative. We have peace. The Governor is, as much as possible, absorbing any level of insult at him only for one purpose: that Rivers State may have peace; that we may grow; that this state will experience genuine development.”
Governor Fubara urged them, as members of the Christian family in the State, to continue to pray for the State and the Government so that the enemies of the State will be put to greater shame.
“This peace is what I want you to embrace. Go and continue to pray, because when the sower of the seed went and sowed, the enemy went in the night and sowed tares inside there. But the Governor is sowing peace.
“When I listened to the leader of the team, His Grace Eddy Ogbonda, he said you came all the way from Eleme Junction, and stopped at major junctions, and you uttered prayers for the peace of Rivers State.”
He also said: “I, hereby want to thank you for identifying with the Governor at a time like this. At a time when it looks as if someone wants the Governor’s peace posture misunderstood as weakness.
“When someone has the strength to fight back, but refuses to fight back. That is a bigger strength; that power of restrain does not just come, it can only come from God.
“You cannot give peace, if you do not have peace within you. The Governor is not interested in any form of trouble or violence. What he is interested in is known, and it is: let there be peace in Rivers State,” he said.
In his address, leader of the group, Archbishop Eddy Ogbonda, said they had observed a week-long intensive prayers that culminated into a peace rally, which brought them to Government House, and assured the Governor that God will continue to give him victory over his adversaries while preserving Rivers State.
“It is Rivers State Prophetic Prayer Convocation and Rally 2024 with the theme: ‘Peace be still’. Of a truth, everyone of us understands that we live in a time when we need peace much more than any other thing.
“Rivers State needs peace. Everyone as individuals need peace. The country needs peace, and the world at large needs peace. So, we are here to do a peace march. We pray that God will command His peace to reign in Rivers State,” he said.