Connect with us

Latest news

If Pushed To The Wall, Ijaw Republic Will Be Declared – INC President

Published

on

INC Meeting With Buhari Didn’t Compromise Ijaw Agenda – Prof Okaba

Prof. Benjamin Okaba, President, Ijaw National Congress (INC) has said that Ijaw Republic will be declared should the Ijaw nation be pushed to the wall.

Okaba, who made the assertion on Saturday in an interview in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital, said he made it clear to President Buhari during their last (INC leaders) meeting with Mr President that the minimum conditions that could guarantee their continued existence in Nigeria as true federalism, justice, equity and fairness in the country.

He added that the INC leadership meeting with Mr President does not in anway compromised the Ijaw nation agitations for true federalism, justice, equity and fairness in the country.

READ ALSO: Diri To INC Leadership: Build Bridges Among Ijaw, Address Nation’s Challenges

The INC president spoke against the backdrop of insinuations by some aggrieved Ijaw leaders, including a prominent activist, Ms Annkio Briggs, that the INC executives that visited Buhari betrayed and misrepresented the Ijaw cause.

Advertisement

“I think we are all one, so I would not want to take issues with Ankio Briggs. She has been a comrade in the struggle. I would rather say there was a little gap in communication. The reality is that we spoke the Ijaw cause and Ijaw agenda, which is self-determination. Our speech was fully published on that. I challenge anybody to go through it.

“The whole insinuation is a clear issue of misunderstanding by some persons. Maybe by the time Briggs made the press statement, she had not read the speech or maybe she only relied on extract that was made public by the media to the Federal Government. Thereafter, we have been able to address the issues and I think we are on the same page,” he said.

While noting that they did not regret seeing the President, the INC President sais the meeting afforded them the opportunity to present their positions on the Nigeria project and the conditions to guarantee peaceful coexistence.

READ ALSO: Presidential Amnesty Boss To INC Leadership: Adopt New Approach For N’Delta Devt

Okaba noted: “We did not betray the Ijaw cause, we have never betrayed the Ijaw cause and we are still on course to make sure that the Ijaw agenda is perfectly actualised in good time. Strategically, we don’t want to turn the Ijaw nation prematurely into a war zone. That is why we emphasise on strategy and on peace.

“We know what is happening in other tribes. The majority of the Ijaw believe that the way to go now through negotiation. That is why we are placing emphasis on peaceful and legal strategies to self-determination.

Advertisement

“We gave minimum conditions to Mr President that until the conditions of true federalism, non-balkanisation of Ijaw nation and the creation of additional states and others are met, we no longer feel safe and happy with the Nigeria project.

“And that if we are pushed to the wall, the Ijaw Republic will be declared. We used that expression pointedly. We also said that we can never be a part of any other Republic that has been declared.

READ ALSO: Insecurity: Don’t Take Our Silence For Weakness, Ijaw Elders Warn FG

“We respect the integrity, the interests of other people, we sympathise with many persons that wish to do so but don’t make Ijaw part of it.”

 

Advertisement
Advertisement
Comments

Latest news

Man, 38 Escapes Assassination Attempt In Benin

Published

on

By

Innocent Omoruyi

By Omokha Andrew

A 38-year-old activist, Innocent Omoruyi, narrowly escaped assassination in the early hours of Wednesday, July 19, 2023 as his residence at Obe Community,Sapele Road in Benin city was attacked by yet to be identified gun men.

The attack which eye witnesses say was viciously executed on Wednesday, July 19, 2023 bore the markings of a dreaded cult group terrorizing Benin City, the state capital.

The Obe, Sapale Road incident, it was learnt, happened soon after Omoruyi left the house to attend to matters of interest some few metres away from his home.

The assailants were said to have shot sporadically in their frustration as residents scampered for safety.

Advertisement

However, Omoruyi escaped unharmed.

One of the eye witnesses who craved anonymity said: “The felons apparently went for the kill, weilding guns and other dangerous weapons. “We are shocked that they didn’t see Innocent Omoruyi who was just some few metres away from home when they arrived”.

“How that happened, only God knows and it was obvious that it wasn’t his time to die yet and just before that not long ago his business place on Lagos Street, Benin City was burnt down in the middle of the night by unknown arsonists.

“This sequence of events is not ordinary. We know it’s politically motivated due to the role he played in the last general elections. He has been advised to go into hiding at the moment for his personal safety”, he concluded.

When contacted, the police Public Relations Officer Chidi Nwabuzor said he was yet to get any information as regards the latest incident. He promised to feed our correspondent with relevant details as soon as they become handy.

Our information source however revealed that the matter has already been incidented at the Love World Police station on Sapele Road, Benin city.

Advertisement

Continue Reading

Business

Nigeria To Earn Over $4bn Revenue As FEC Okays Concession Of Abuja, Kano Airports

Published

on

By

Nigeria will earn over $4 billion in nominal revenue as the Federal Executive Council, FEC, on Wednesday okayed the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, to the Corporacion American Airport Consortium, a Luxembourg-based company.

James Odaudu, the Special Assistant on Public Affairs to the Minister of Aviation, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.

According to him, the Council also approved that the Federal Ministry of Aviation would be renamed the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace.

READ ALSO: ATMs To Be Upgraded For Loans Services As CBN Gives Banks Ultimatum…

The statement noted that the company would make combined upfront payments of $8.5 million for the concession of NAIA and MAKIA.

Advertisement

He added that the development would spur evidential growth within the Nigerian aviation industry.

In alignment with the Aviation Roadmap, approved by Mr President on 18th October 2016, the Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace is delighted to inform all stakeholders, both local and international, and the media, that the concession of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano has been approved by the Federal Executive Council,” the statement said.

READ ALSO: Peter Obi, LP Must Pay N1.5million To Access Documents – INEC

In December 2022 and January 2023, Corporacion American Airport Consortium was announced as the preferred bidder for the airport’s concession after scaling through a series of evaluations of technical and financial bids.

Nominal revenues mean income not adjusted for inflation and decreasing purchasing power.

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Latest news

Russia Expelled From Council Of Europe Amid War With Ukraine

Published

on

By

The Council of Europe says it has expelled Russia with immediate effect after 26 years of membership because of the Ukraine war.

The Committee of Ministers took the decision in a special session, the rights body announced in the French city of Strasbourg on Wednesday.

Earlier, Russia had already declared its withdrawal from the Council of Europe after it had taken steps to exclude it.

On Tuesday evening, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe voted unanimously in favour of Russia’s exclusion.

Russia joined the Council of Europe on Feb. 28, 1996.

Advertisement

Together with the formal notification of the withdrawal, the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe also received information from the Russian Federation on Tuesday about its intention to denounce the European Convention on Human Rights.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the leaders of the Council of Europe once again condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

READ ALSO: Ukraine: Horror As Russian Forces Shoot People Queuing For Bread

They expressed their solidarity with the Russian people, who continue to belong to the European family and share its values.

The body said it would continue to stand by Ukraine in the fight against the aggressor.

The Council of Europe monitors the observance of human rights in its 46 member states and is not part of the European Union.

Advertisement

The body reacted to the Russian invasion of Ukraine two weeks ago by suspending Russia’s membership, this decision was considered historic.

Continue Reading

Trending