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Ohanaeze to Nnamdi Kanu: You may descend from hero to villain
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo has warned the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra to be watchful so he does not descend from being a hero to a villain.
The President General of the group, Prof. George Obiozor, gave the warning ahead of the Igbo Day celebrations.
In a statement on Monday ahead of the celebrations scheduled for September 29, 2021, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, condemned the tension that had pervaded the South East in recent times and called on the governors of the zone to immediately inaugurate the regional security outfit codenamed Ebubeagu.
It also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to quickly initiate the process of national dialogue.
Obiozor said in the statement: “Today, what we are seeing in Igbo land is not liberation but Ala-Igbo destruction and devastation. It is a national tragedy for Igbo. The liberty and freedom of Ndigbo are threatened internally and externally. I call on IPOB leaders to reassert the authority and control of the organization.
“To our son Nnamdi Kanu himself, what good is it to have the greatest dream in the world, if others reap the benefit and glory. In history, there is only a thin line between a hero and a villain. The greatest tragedy for any leader in history is to end up from a hero to a villain. Ndigbo must think again which way forward. Our anger and disgust must be directed at leaders and fellow citizens, who do not want Ndigbo to become emancipated like themselves as Nigerian citizens.
“What Ndigbo want is that we should become a light unto the world, like all good people in the world ought to be. That was precisely part of my critical message to His Excellency President Muhammed Buhari during his official visit to Imo State. For Ndigbo, the President and Federal Government, there must be evidence of increasing sense of belonging, equity, and justice for Ndigbo.
“We repeat our preference for dialogue instead of violence or military solutions to national problems. The dialogue should not be delayed further. For Ndigbo, the demand is simple, that the Nigerian Federation should be sustained and have a sense of stability; it must be a union of equals and the composite units must have the ability to survive without begging the centre.
“We must tell ourselves the truth or keep deceiving ourselves by ignoring the calls for decentralization and devolution of power in Nigeria. Ironically, in history, societies where truth comes last, tragedy comes first. We must learn the lessons of history, particularly our own Nigerian history on how the story began. Nigeria must avoid being a failed state.
“To the South-East Governors, the delay in launching Ebubeagu security outfit is an embarrassment. I strongly appeal to the Governors without further hesitation to consolidate and launch Ebubeagu security architecture, in the South-East. The security situation in the South-East makes this call urgent and imperative. Our people must have a security networking agency that is under their control and capable of identifying both internal and external security threats in Igbo land.”
The Eagle Online
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Ondo poll: APC buying votes with N10,000, PDP alleges
Ondo poll: APC buying votes with N10,000, PDP alleges
Dr. Eddy Olafeso, the Director General of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) campaign council for the Ondo state governorship election, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) of vote-buying in his unit at N10,000 per voter.
Olafeso, who spoke after voting at his polling unit 005 Olumekun compound, Ward 12, Idepe, Okitipupa Local Government Area, Ondo state, said the election was peaceful in his area.
According to him, ” We have been here around 8am and everything appears in line with the electoral law especially the area i voted but our fears is the APC that has not done anything for the people in the last four years are moulding up the process by paying N10,000 to each voters, we have witnessed it here and we have complained and it appears intractable.
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“For us, no matter the kind of profligacy they are introducing into the electoral process, truth will prevail in the final analysis.
“You know it is a long process and voting is the first stage , we are waiting for it to be uploaded into IREV, we are waiting to take our from E8CA to ensure that everything is appropriately recorded.
“Like I said, the only fear is the vote buying the APC is trying to entrench into the culture of voting in Nigeria.”
Ondo poll: APC buying votes with N10,000, PDP alleges
News
Ondo: INEC new challenge as 1.7 million votes decide next gov today
Ondo: INEC new challenge as 1.7 million votes decide next gov today
Today, 1,757,205 registered voters in Ondo State will head to polling stations across its 18 local government areas to elect a new governor who will steer the affairs of the state for the next four years.
This marks an increase in the number of registered voters compared to the 2020 election, which had 1,647,973 registered voters, of which only 580,887 votes were recorded.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has expressed its readiness for the exercise, deploying 4,002 Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS) devices across 3,933 polling units, with 812 units on standby in case of technical hitches.
Speaking on the commission’s preparations, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mrs Oluwatoyin Babalola, assured the public that sensitive materials were distributed on Thursday to the Registration Area Centres (RACs) for timely deployment.
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Tinubu calls for peaceful polls
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on stakeholders and voters to uphold peace during and after the election. Through his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu emphasised the importance of the election reflecting the people’s will.
“The president reminds all political stakeholders, especially the candidates, that governance is a privilege bestowed by the people. This privilege must be respected, and Nigerians deserve a free and fair election to consolidate our democracy,” the statement read.
Tinubu also commended the security agencies’ preparedness, with the Inspector-General of Police and the Chief of Defence Staff, assuring professionalism during the exercise.
Ondo: INEC new challenge as 1.7 million votes decide next gov today
News
Late COAS Lagbaja gets CFR honour, buried amid tributes
Late COAS Lagbaja gets CFR honour, buried amid tributes
The late Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt. General Taoreed Lagbaja, was on Friday laid to rest in Abuja, amid tears and tributes.
President Bola Tinubu conferred a posthumous award of the Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) on the late Chief of Army Staff.
The burial took place at the National Cemetery in Abuja to end two days of funeral rites that began in Lagos earlier in the week.
His body was lowered into the grave at exactly 4:41pm after the ceremony that lasted over two hours.
Lagbaja’s casket, draped in Nigeria’s green and white colours, arrived at the cemetery around 3pm in a white funeral wagon after a funeral service at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.
Dignitaries were led to the event by President Bola Tinubu. Others are Vice President Kashim Shettima; the Acting Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Olufemi Oluyede; the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Christopher Musa; Minister of Defence, Abubakar Badaru, and other top government officials and military brass.
President Tinubu announced the conferment of the CFR on the late COAS during the interment at the National Cemetery in Abuja.
The President extolled the virtues of the late warrior, especially his contributions to national security.
According to him, the appointment of Lagbaja as the COAS was one of his finest made so far.
“As an eternal symbol of our appreciation, I have granted the late Chief of Army Staff, the posthumous national honour of the Commander of the Federal Republic of the Niger (CFR),” Tinubu declared.
He thereafter invited the wife of the late COAS, Mariya, to collect the award on behalf of the Lagbaja family amid applause from the congregation.
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News24 hours agoLate COAS Lagbaja gets CFR honour, buried amid tributes