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Rescue Us From Incessant Attack, Land Encroachment, Oke-Oroma Community Begs Edo Govt, Others

Published

3 years ago

July 20, 2020

People of Oke-Oroma community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State have appealed to the state government and other concerned authorities to rescue them from an incessant attack they alleged carried out on them by Amagba community.

In a visit to the community, it was observed that recent attack on the community resulted in burning down of over 15 vehicles and numerous buildings in the community estimated at millions of naira.

Interior of Mr. Monday’s building burnt down during the crisis

Though nomalcy is returning to the community as commercial activities are gradually picking up, it was learnt that it took the effort of Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, to order stationing of a military checkpoint before the last attack on the community was checkmated.

Taking newsmen round the damaged property in an inception, Pa Richard Emokpae, Acting Odionwere of the community, said they were going about their normal businesses on the 20th of February this year when people he alleged to have come from Amagba in Oredo LGA of the state attacked them.

He noted that though land dispute between Amagba and Oke-Oroma started year 2012, the then Oba Erediauwa settled the dispute by declaring that Amagba land does not extend to the community, and that he warned them not to trespass yet they have continue to attack them, stressing that the attack occured even in 2017.

Carcass of cars burnt down by the attackers at Oke-Oroma community

The Acting Odiowere added that the Oba then declared that Oke-Oroma is an autonomous community and that Amagba and other neighbouring communities land does not extend beyond Oroma river (the land boundary) yet they have turned deaf hear to the declaration and attack them over the land.

” From time in memorial, Oke-Oroma community has never been under any community; our community is an autonomous community, and we have a natural boundary which is Oroma river. Oroma river is the natural boundary between our community and Amagba.

” But unfortunately Amagba came to invade us, and in the process many structures were destroyed while vehicles were burnt. The Oba of Benin has once again declared that Amagba does not own any land across the river, but the Invaders are not at rest, they do come to invade us every day, and we have lost several people in the battle.

” This recent attack one took place on the 20th of February this year.
The attack lasted for more than two weeks.They were shooting indiscriminately that many of us ran into the bush and spent days there,” the Acting Odionwere said.

Also speaking to newsmen, one of the victims of the attack, Mr. Monday Imagbenikaro said he was in the morning that faithful day with his family when he started hearing gunshots and some men came to his house and shot indiscriminately, killing his four foreign dogs and left.

Building damaged during the crisis

He added that they came for the second time and pulled his gate down after which they damaged his property in the premises including his three cars, just as he stressed that they came for the third time and forced themselves into the building and brought out him and shot him on the legs without asking any question.”

” My wife came back home to tell me that some police men at the river side said to her and the driver to go back, and that there was a crisis in the community and they want to settle it. I then said if that should be the case we should lock ourselves inside. As we just did that, the next thing, I started hearing gunshots. Before I knew what was happening, they came to my house and shot all my dogs; they fell my gate, and left.

” As they left, I thought it was over, so I came out but saw a lot of people in the community with guns, I then said within myself it was not over yet, I then went inside again. After some hours, they came again, entered my house, damaged things including my 3 cars, and they were even arguing if they should set fire on my generator, but someone said it was not yet time for that, but they must destroy something, and they destroyed everything and left again.

” The third time again they came at about 6pm and started banging on my main door. They forced themselves in and brought me out. Without asking any question, they first shot me on my two legs and I was on the floor. A guy brought out pump action and was about shooting me when I started pleading that my wife is pregnant and that they should allow me see my inborn baby.

” They brought my wife out and saw her. But one said they should kill me, the man that brought my wife out however said this man said his wife is pregnant and he wants to see his unborn baby, you still want to kill him, please let him be. They there after brought out my driver, and I started pleading that he is my driver that they shouldn’t kill him. And that was how they ordered him to take me to hospital, and that no one else will touch us, and that was how myself and the entire family left.”

According to him, when all this was going, they questioned him why he didn’t buy land from Amagba community but Oke-Oroma, and that Amagba owns the community and the land therein.

” But before they ordered my driver to take me to hospital, They questioned me why did I not buy land from Amagba but Oke-Oroma, that I suppose not to buy land from the community but Amagba, and that Amagba owns the community.

Another building damaged

Effort to take Amagba’s reaction proved abortive as one of the community leaders who ought to speak to our correspondent said on phone that he was in Lagos and that he cannot say anything as regards the allegation via phone.

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More Than Half Of world’s Poor In Africa – Economist

Published

11 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Editor

Chief Economist, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Hanan Morsy, said Africa accounts for more than half of the world’s poor.

Morsy gave the figure on Monday at the 55th session of the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning, and Economic Development in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The official noted that the continent faced a tsunami of global shocks that have exacerbated existing socio-economic operation and equity.

“Africa, as a result of these shocks, currently accounts for more than half of the world’s poverty at 54.8 per cent,” the economist hinted.

Morsy said an estimated 548 million Africans lived in poverty in 2022, while 149 million more at risk of falling into poverty.

She observed a skewed distribution across the continent in terms of concentration of underlying issues, with East and West Africa having a higher share of poverty.

Morsy called for inclusive macroeconomic policies such as targeted and efficient spending, and resilience to future shocks at the household and community level.

The ECA chief, however, urged African governments to enhance resource mobilisation, including closing tax loopholes.

“Africa loses 40 to 60 billion dollars annually in tax evasion. There’s also funding that can be raised through tackling issues of illicit financial flows,’’ she said.

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Abia Guber Poll: Otti Wins In 10 LGAs, PDP 5

Published

15 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Editor

Alex Otti of the Labour Party has won a total of 10 out of the 16 Local Government Area results so far declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, before the commission suspended collation of the Abia governorship election.

Otti polled a total of 171,747 votes while Okey Ahiwe of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, scored a total of 79,477 votes after winning five LGAs.

Young Peoples Party, YPP polled 8,839 to win Osisioma LGA the home of its governorship candidate, Enyinnaya Nwafor.

Meanwhile, INEC, has directed the immediate suspension of collation of governorship election results in Abia State.

Administrative Secretary of INEC, Abia State, Chief Clement Oha read the directive midway into collation at the INEC office in Umuahia on Monday.

He said that based on the alleged irregularities by in some polling units particularly Obingwa Local Government Area where INEC office was invaded, collation had been halted at the LGA.

According to him, there will be no further collation of results at Obingwa until INEC Commissioners arrive from Abuja by Tuesday to supervise the collation and take decision on what has to be done after reviewing the situation on ground.

The Presiding Officer and Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO, Professor Nnenna Oti had in the course of collation brought in the Administrative Secretary to read the message she said that came from the INEC headquarters Abuja.

She had said that the INEC Chairman Mahmood Yakubu, personally called her and gave her directives on guidelines to follow in ensuring that Abia governorship election results were collated based on the extant guidelines.

Professor Otti thereafter, announced the immediate suspension of collation pending the arrival of the team from Abuja.

She had earlier vowed to the neutral but strictly objective in discharging her duties.

Professor Otti who is also a Pastor with the Redeemed Church, assured that the will of Abia voters would not be subverted under her watch.

”I’m Professor Nnenna Oti from Afikpo, VC of FUTO. The people’s mandate shall stand.

“I have spent all my adult life in pursuit of the ideals of good governance. We shall stand by the these principles.

”The pastor in me and the mother in me will not permit me to do anything that will adversely affect the future of our children. I shall do right by God and by man!”

Meanwhile INEC in another statement signed by its Head Voter Education and Information Committee, Festus Okoye, announced suspension of collation of governorship election results in Abia and Enugu States.

INEC in the statement, cited alleged cases of violence, irregularities and invasion of its offices in the affected states as reason for the action.

According to a statement, the commission will review results in the affected LGAs before further action.

But Alex Otti of the Labour Party is already leading in the 12 LGAs so far declared.

Below is a full text of the statement.

“SUSPENSION OF FURTHER COLLATION OF GOVERNORSHIP ELECTION RESULTS IN ABIA AND ENUGU STATES

Below is a full text of the statement entitled ” Suspension of Further Collation of Governorship Election Results in Abia and Enugu”:

“The Commission met today, Monday 20th March 2023 and reviewed the conduct of the Governorship and State Assembly elections held nationwide on Saturday 18th March 2023. Arising from the meeting, the Commission took the decision to suspend forthwith further collation of the Governorship election results in some parts of Abia and Enugu States.

“It will be recalled that our office in Obingwa Local Government Area was invaded by thugs yesterday Sunday 19th March 2023 and our officials held hostage in relation to the collation of results from the Local Government Area. Similarly, reports from Enugu State call for a review of the results for the Governorship election from the two outstanding Local Government Areas of Nsukka and Nkanu East.

“Consequently, the Commission hereby suspends the collation of results in Obingwa Local Government Area of Abia State and the two outstanding Local Government Areas of Enugu State which are yet to be collated. A review will be undertaken immediately before the process is concluded.

“We appeal for the understanding and patience of voters, parties and candidates in the affected States.”

Meanwhile, Dr Alex Otti has maintained a comfortable lead in the 16 Local Government Area results so far declared.

He won five LGAs out of 10 that was declared on Sunday, and collected another five out of the six LGAs announced on Monday, thus bringing the total number of LGAs under his kitty to 10.

Young Peoples Party, YPP won in one LGA while PDP has five LGAs.

According to the results of the 16 LGAs declared so far, Otti polled a total of 171,747 votes, while Ahiwe of the PDP trailed behind with 79,477 votes.

In the results declared on Monday, YPP polled 8,839 to win Osisioma LGA the home of its governorship candidate, Enyinnaya Nwafor.

Labour Party came second in Osisioma after polling 7,032 votes while PDP got 4,699 votes.

APC, APGA and ADC scored 504, 292, and 332 respectively.

LP swept Umuahia North the seat of Abia power with 27,668 while APC whose candidate, Chief Ikechi Emenike who hails from the area, came second with 7,225 votes.

PDP got 4,843 votes while APGA and ADC polled 1,816 and 457 respectively.

Similarly, LP cleared Aba South with 22,014 votes while PDP crawled behind with 3,348 votes; and APGA, 1,762 votes.

The Labour Party continued its winning spree at Aba North where it polled 20,974 votes while the ruling PDP managed to get away with only 4,146.

YPP scored 2,296; while APGA got 1,404 votes.

LP also swept Ohafia LGA with 11,848 votes against PDP’s 4, 128 votes.

APC and APGA got 1,354 and 945 votes respectively.

The Labour Party still cleared Umuahia South with 16,187 votes while PDP got 5,464 votes.

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Falz Reacts To Sanwo-Olu’s appreciation Post

Published

20 hours ago

March 20, 2023

Editor

Famous Nigerian singer, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz the bad guy, has reacted to the Lagos State re-elected Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s appreciation post.

Governor Sanwo-Olu had on Monday, in a post shared on his official Twitter handle, appreciated Lagosians for believing in him.

He wrote: ”I’m deeply humbled and grateful for the overwhelming support and trust of the good people of Lagos State. I’m honoured to be re-elected as your governor and pledge to continue to work tirelessly to deliver a better Lagos for all. Thank you for believing in me.”

Reacting to this, Falz, who quoted the tweet, said everyone had seen the electoral irregularities unfold and Sanwo-Olu was only deceiving himself.

”You were not re-elected. You selected yourself. Everybody saw it unfold. You are only deceiving yourselves,” he said.