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Radio For Fulani Herdsmen: Southern, Middle Belt Leaders Blast FG …Says Move Shocking, Unacceptable …Militants Threaten To Declare N’Delta Republic, June

The Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum has opposed the plan by the Federal Government to set up a radio station for herdsmen.
A statement, yesterday, signed by Yinka Odumakin (South-West), Senator Bassey Henshaw (South-South), Dr. Isuwa Dogo (Middle-Belt) and Prof Chigozie Ogbu (South-East) said it received the news with rude shock.
It said the announcement came at a time the Federal Government had been acting as the information arm of Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen by dicing the correct interpretation of the groups’ activities by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as an attempt to “Fulanise” Nigeria.
“We totally reject this insensitive decision of the government on the following fundamental grounds:
“It smacks of hypocrisy and deception for a government that has in the last four years denied responsibility on behalf of the Fulani herdsmen for crimes they even owned up to, to now tell us it wants to set up a radio for them to address the same issues.
“Section 55 of the 1999 Constitution recognises English, Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo as Languages in which the official business of the National Assembly can be conducted. There was no mention of Fulani which is not a language most northerners even understand.
“Why its sudden promotion to a language the Federal Government will set up a radio to promote? Will it also set up radio stations for the officially recognised languages and the over 250 languages spoken in different parts of Nigeria?
“We fear seriously that the proposed radio will become a weapon of spreading hate propaganda against other nationalities in Nigeria given the kid gloves treatment with which the Buhari administration has handled the killings of thousands of Nigerians in the last four years.
“We are guided the genocide-aiding role radio played in inciting ordinary citizens to take part in the massacre of Tutsis and moderate Hutus during the Rwandan Genocide. From 1993 to late 1994, RTLM was used by Hutu leaders to propagate an extremist Hutu message and anti-Tusti disinformation by identifying specific targets and areas where they could be found and encouraging progress of the genocide.
An estimated 7,000 Nigerians died between 2015 and 2019 in the persistent violence between farmers and pastoralists in the middle belt states of Benue and Nasarawa, a report funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has said.
Titled ”Engaging Communities for Peace in Nigeria (ECPN),” the report also said the violence has cost the Nigerian economy $13 billion a year over the past five years.
An international non-governmental organisation, Mercy Corps, conducted the study across the states and wrote the report.
The group said the study was aimed at preventing violent conflict between farmer and herders in the middle belt states. The report was presented at Bon Elvis Hotels yesterday in Abuja.
The presentation was witnessed by the paramount ruler of the Tiv, Tor Tiv James Ayatse; the Country Director, Mercy Corps, Darius Radcliffe; USAID Mission Director, Stephen Haykin, represented by USAID country Democracy Officer, Beatrice Reaud , and other community leaders from Benue and Nasarawa states.
The report said a programme of interventions in the middle belt states by Mercy Corps had helped to reduce conflict in the area by 13 per cent.
The report said trained participants in the programme succeeded in resolving1932 inter and the intra-community disputes.
According to the report, over 600 disputes over grazing routes, seasonal access to water points, crop damage, cutting down of economic trees, water pollution by animals, and commerce were addressed peacefully in the communities where ECPN worked.
“Peace and reconciliation lie at the heart of USAID’s global approach to promoting stability and security in conflict-affected areas,” Mrs Reaud, said at the closing event.
“The United States and Nigeria share the objective of reducing violence in the Middle Belt states by peacefully preventing and resolving farmer-pastoralist conflicts.
“We must look beyond the help that Mercy Corps through USAID has given us,” she said.
“We are grateful for the assistance, but [its ideas] must be repackaged an implemented under another name.
“If we don’t change our ways, these problems will continue to hurt us, and it is the poor and downtrodden who suffer most. If you engage in fighting, even if you win, you lose something.”
“In 1994, Rwanda Radio began to advance the same message by issuing directives on where to kill Tutsis and congratulating those who had already taken part.
“Using the instrumentality of the Federal Government to set up a radio for Fulani herdsmen will throw a knife at the tiniest of the threads still holding Nigeria together as all illusions of an inclusive country would be removed and the rest of the country would conclude we are now under Fulani Government of Nigeria.
“We, therefore, demand that the Federal Government should perish the thought of a Fulani radio sponsored by government if it cares in any form about the corporate existence of the country,” they said.
Meanwhile, a militant group, Network of Niger Delta Republic Fighters, has threatened to declare a Niger Delta Republic on June 1, 2019.
In a statement, the group said they were not happy with the situation in Nigeria.
The statement by the Director of Information of the group, Maxwell Dan, alleged selective maltreatment of the people of the region by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
It listed police invasion of the residence of a Niger Delta leader, Chief Edwin Clark, last year, and current ordeal of the ex-Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen, as part of the selective maltreatment of Niger Delta people.
The statement read, “It is quite unfortunate that the story has not changed till today, and we are standing on that declaration; we are standing on the declaration of the sovereign state of Niger Delta, and we will declare Niger Delta Republic on June 1, 2019.
“It is a common fact that Nigeria has completely derailed from the path of peace, justice and progress as proclaimed by its founding fathers.”
It added, “As that could not pay off, they removed a Niger Delta son, Mr Mathew Seiyeifa, the most qualified director of DSS without any due process. Not satisfied with his cruel and selective onslaught against the Niger Delta people, they plotted again and removed our son, Justice Walter Onnoghen from office on frivolous allegations without following due process, neither was he given an opportunity of fair hearing.
“It is also unfortunate that after four years of this administration, there is no single viable project executed by the Federal Government in Niger Delta despite the billions of Naira accruing to the government from the resources of the Niger Delta as a result of the ceasefire in the region.”
The group also decried killings in the country; lamenting that government had not been able to protect its citizens.
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Army To Review Troops’ Conduct During Elections, Other Operations

The Nigerian Army is set to review the conduct of troops in Operation Safe Conduct during the just concluded 2023 general elections across the country.
The review is expected to take place during the forthcoming Chief of Army Staff First Quarter 2023 Conference.
This is contained in a statement by the Director of Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Onyema Nwachukwu, yesterday in Abuja.
Nwachukwu said that the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Faruk Yahaya, would interact with the General Officers Commanding (GOC), field commanders and other senior officers.
He said that the interaction would help to provide possible guidance towards enhancing army operations and other activities.
He said the conference, which would hold from April 3 to April 6 would offer an avenue for reappraisal of the administrative affairs of the Nigerian army.
He added that it would also help in evaluation and comprehensive review of ongoing operational engagements within the first quarter.
According to him, this will provide the army an in-depth insight to enable far reaching decisions towards achieving its set objective of addressing the multifaceted security challenges confronting the country.
Nwachukwu said that the COAS would present a new Toyota Hilux vehicles each to 14 Army Warrant Officers who had attained the peak of their soldiering career.
“Similarly, the COAS will commission the newly constructed Faruk Yahaya Historical Park located at Asokoro Abuja.
“The conference will also showcase some research and development effort of the Nigerian Army in an exhibition.
“The three days conference promises to be very eventful, as it will witness a review of the conduct of troops during the recently concluded Operation SAFE CONDUCT 2023 and other operations across the country,” he said.
Nwachukwu reaffirmed the commitment and resolve of the Nigerian army to discharging its constitutional mandate professionally.
“We will also be resolute in upholding our values of courage, selfless sacrifice, respect, discipline and unalloyed loyalty to constituted authority,” he added.
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PDP Without Ayu Will Be Stronger -Wike …Says He’s Not Scared Of EFCC After Office

Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, has declared his belief in a strong leadership for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which cannot be actualised with Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the embattled national chairman still on the saddle.
The governor maintained that under Dr. Ayu, PDP became weak, lacking that kind of leadership that should make it a strong political force to reckon with, because embattled national chairman was busy with personal gains he could grab.
Governor Wike made the accusation when he spoke at the Rumuigbo Civic Centre, venue of the inauguration of Rumuigbo Internal Roads in Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, last Wednesday.
The governor said he cannot support Dr Ayu, who instead of providing strong national leadership to the PDP, was busy building private university in Benue State from the money realised from the party’s congresses
“I believe that we should have a strong leadership. I can’t support people whose interest is only to amass money.
“I can’t support people where we did congresses and raised about N12.5billion and within two months, that money was gone. And somebody has stayed in office for one year, he is building university, I won’t support such.”
Governor Wike explained that it is because of such unproductive leadership style to the party that he is supporting the removal of Dr. Ayu from office.
“That is why I am in support that that bloody criminal must leave office if we want PDP to be strengthened. I owe no apology to anybody. I said it before, this is the final fight we will fight and we are going to win this fight.”
Commenting on the internal roads project, governor Wike said in December 2022 when it was flagged-off, he promised that it will be completed and inaugurated by him, which has been fulfilled.
Governor Wike told them that he feels satisfied to have performed well in office and declared in good authority that he served Rivers people credibly without also disappointing or embarrassing his kinsmen.
He assured of inaugurating more projects until the midnight of 28th May 2023 without any project already ongoing abandoned.
Governor Wike informed that he is not afraid of any visit from the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) when he leaves office, because there is nothing to hide and the numerous projects are evidences of how resources of the State have been used.
Inaugurating the project, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State commended governor Wike for achieving more projects for Rivers people. He attributed this not entirely to too much money at the disposal of governor Wike, but his commitment to providing better living condition for Rivers people.
Governor Mohammed also acknowledged the political sagacity of governor Wike demonstrated in ensuring PDP in the State won the governorship, all State Assembly and three senatorial seats, and delivering votes that contributed to his preferred southern president.
Providing description of the project, Rivers State Commissioner for Works Dr George -Kelly Dakorinima Alabo said the roads are scattered in 17 streets of different sizes.
According to him, they measures 8.5 kilometres in length, and were delivered within 5 months without disruption from the host community.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area, George Ariolu noted the internal roads being inaugurated in Rumuigbo as evidence of the urban renewal programme of the Wike’s administration.
He thanked governor Wike for being a rare politicians who has sustained delivery of projects that have impacted the life of Rivers people positively.
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Ayu, You Are Gone -Wike …Says Those Plotting Against Them Are Now Victims …You’ve Done Well For Rivers People -Makinde

Rivers State Governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, yesterday celebrated the ouster of the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Iyorchia Ayu.
The National Deputy Chairman of the party, (North), Umar Damagum, was announced yesterday as Ayu’s replacement in an acting capacity.
Ayu’s exit comes barely two days after the Executive Committee of the PDP in Igyorov Ward, Gboko Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State suspended the former chairman with immediate effect.
Ayu had been embroiled in a bitter feud with some high-ranking PDP members led by five governors identified as the G5: Wike, Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
With the emergence of PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, in the party’s May 2022 primary, the G5 refused to join the campaign unless Ayu resigned.
The face-off culminated in the party’s defeat at the February 25 presidential election.
Moments after Ayu’s removal was made public yesterday, Wike celebrated the defeat at the commissioning of the Trans-Kalabari Road Phase 1, Degema Local Government Area of Rivers State.
“You see how God works? All those people who were plotting evil against us, they are now the ones suffering it,” he said.
Wike further mocked the former PDP National Chairman: “Ayu said nobody can suspend him but today, he has packed out from the national office. We have an acting chairman. I told him he will go whether he likes it or not, he will go.”
“Those lawyers telling you that the ward has no power to suspend you, that it’s only National Executive Council (NEC), then you don’t understand what is happening. When you came, it was the ward that suspended (Uche) Secondus, and you went and took office, is it not?”
“So, is it now that you know that it is only NEC that can suspend you? Let me tell you, since they’ve not told you, the court has struck off that section of our constitution that says it’s only NEC can suspend (chairman). PDP did not even appeal the judgement.
“So, forget it, you are gone. You are wasting your time. We are ready for the battle. I am not from Benue, but I have interest and that interest is that Ayu must go”.
He advised Ayu to come to terms with the reality that his calamitous reign has come to an end.
The governor said Ayu’s claim that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) can suspend him was a pointer that he was suffering from delusion of grandeur.
He declared that Ayu cannot reap from a party by presiding over its affairs, where he has not sown or secured any electoral victory for it.
Wike pointed out that Ayu’s suspension by his ward executive shows that he is not a formidable force and respected political leader who commands loyal followers.
“Look at it, a national chairman, your own ward will be suspending you. Does it not tell you that you are not on ground? Your own ward will be suspending you and you go to television to say only NEC can suspend you. Stay, wait for NEC, but then know that you’re gone”, he asserted
The governor noted that Ayu could not secure winning votes for his preferred candidate in the February 25 presidential election, in addition to electoral failure that greeted him because he lost his unit, ward, local government and the state to the opposition party.
“Ayu, the man you supported for president you didn’t give him the vote, he lost. We supported a southern president and we won in our states for equity, justice and fairness.
“A man who lost his unit, a man who lost his ward, a man who lost his local government, a man who lost his state and he is coming to preside over us who won our units, won our wards, won our local governments, won our state, something must be wrong”, he said.
Wike also told Ayu: “You cannot reap where you never sowed. If all of us have lost our states, what will you be chairing.
“You want to use Rivers State to be chairman, we are not party to that. Go and bring your own local government. Here (in Rivers), we won 32 over 32 seats for House of Assembly; Ayu, how many did you win? Here, we won the three seats for Senate too; Ayu, how many did you win? We won 11 out of the 13 seats for House of representatives; Ayu, how many did you win?”
Commenting on the Trans-Kalabari Road project, Wike dismissed sceptics who had assumed he won’t complete the project.
According to him, despite the kidnap of Lubrik Construction Company staff for five months in a bid to disrupt the project, he pressed on and ensured its completion in his tenure.
The governor commended Kalabari people for supporting the PDP and delivering winning votes in the three local government areas for Sir Siminialayi Fubara to emerge the governor-elect.
Performing the inauguration of the project, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State noted that Wike has done so well for Rivers people because of the spread of his development projects in virtually every community.
Makinde said he is following in the footstep of Wike to sustain the pace of delivery of democratic dividends to people of Oyo State who have graciously re-elected him for a second tenure.
Rivers State Commissioner for Works, Dr. Dakorinima Alabo George-Kelly, said the Trans-Kalabari Road that is 13. 545 kilometers long linking six Kalabari communities to mainland, was awarded on March 23, 2021, and completed on schedule.
“Several governments in the past had made futile attempts to commence this project, but they were all efforts in futilities. You came, you awarded and in no time we are here for the commissioning of the project. Your Excellency, you have put your name in the sands of time so far the Kalabari ethnicity is concerned.
“Before now, out of the 33 towns and villages of the Kalabari ethnic nationality, only 12 were linked up to the mainland. Your Excellency, Nyesom Wike has linked up extra six to the mainland.”
In his goodwill message, Chairman of Rivers State Elders Forum, Chief Ferdinand Alabraba, noted that 18 months after he was privileged to perform the flag-off of the Trans-Kalabari Road, against the expectation of sceptics, it has been inaugurated.
According to him, it shows that Wike was not like other politicians who promise what they cannot fulfill, adding that Kalabari people were eternally grateful to him.
In his welcome address, Chairman of Degema Local Government Area, Michael Williams, flanked by his counterparts of Asari-Toru and Akuku-Toru, expressed the appreciation of Kalabari people to Wike for fulfilling his promise of delivering the phase one of the Trans-Kalabari Road within his tenure.
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