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ABIA EX-MILAD DENOUNCES MARGINALIZATION OF OKPE KINGDOM
ABIA EX-MILAD DENOUNCES MARGINALIZATION OF OKPE KINGDOM
· RECOUNTS HOW OBOREVWORI EMERGED AS GOVERNOR
· ATTRIBUTES URHOBO AGENDA TO OKPE BACKWARDNESS
· SLAMS UGHELLI LEADERS OVER SCRAMBLE FOR GOVERNORSHIP SLOT
· URGES OKPE LEADERS TO BRACE UP FOR 2027 CHALLENGE
By: Our Reporter
Air Vice Marshal (rtd) Frank Ajobena may have stirred another round of controversy among Delta political leaders where he observed that the Okpe Nation was the least in the pecking order in Delta Central.
‘’There is a pecking order in the state. Every time something good comes to Delta Central, it has to go first to the Ughelli people. The next in the pecking order are the Ethiope East people, the Agbon people. The Okpe, who are majority, are the least in the pecking order. You could see it even when the contest for the governorship was on. There was a gang up. They didn’t want an Okpe person to be governor. It took a lot of canvassing and the grace of God for the Okpe person to emerge as governor. That position is still being contested by those by those who think they are born to rule Delta State’’
Ajobena spoke in Lagos at the 95th anniversary of Okpe Union.
‘’The identity of a people is fundamental to their emancipation. If you look at the Bible, the issue of identity was the reason Jesus Christ came to the earth. If you look at Psalm 82, verses 5-7. They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the Most High. But ye shall die like men and fall like one of the princes. Each time Jesus Christ tries to introduce man as a divinity, they try to stone him’’.
The military administrator of Abia State from 28th August 1991 until January 1992 maintained that Okpe was not Urhobo.
‘’The issue of identity is fundamental. I don’t know why our brothers are apprehensive of Okpe establishing itself as a nationality. If you go to Google and you look at the definition of ethnic nationality, it is well defined. It is a people that share a common ancestry. We do not share a common ancestry with Urhobo people. It further defined people that share the same language. We do not share the same language with the Urhobos. If you speak Okpe in the midst of Urhobo people, they will say you are speaking in tongues. They don’t understand what you are saying. All these questions that Okpe is Urhobo is for political adventure and political gains. They want to project the Urhobo as a large ethnic nationality. So, they use Okpe to feather their own nest’’
Ajobena stated that the political position of the Okpe Nation must be reviewed to save the kingdom from further backwardness.
‘’Whatever comes to the geographical space that is being referred to as Delta Central today is seen as Urhobo matter. The Okpe people are treated as second class citizens within that space. As long as we remain tied to the apron strings of Urhobo, we will not achieve anything. We need to let them know’’.
He said the actions of leaders in the state have thrown Okpe Kingdom into the back burner position in the political affairs of Delta Central.
‘’Urhobos are our friendly neighbors. We are not quarrelling. We intermarry. I don’t see reason for this apprehension’’.
He, however, warned those celebrating Okpe as the largest Urhobo ethnic nationality to admit their mistake and work for the recognition of Okpe identity.
ABIA EX-MILAD DENOUNCES MARGINALIZATION OF OKPE KINGDOM
Breaking: Kanu fails to open defence, cites former counsel’s retention of case file
By: Zagazola Makama
The detained leader of the proscribed separatist group, Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, on Friday failed to open his defence in his ongoing terrorism trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu attributed his inability to present his defence to the failure of his former legal team, led by former Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) Kanu Agabi, to hand over his case file, preventing him from adequately preparing.
The defendant was initially slated to open his defence on Thursday but instead announced the sacking of his legal team and requested a short adjournment until Friday.
On Friday, the prosecuting counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN), informed the court that the case was scheduled for Kanu to open his defence. When called, Kanu informed the court he could not proceed as those responsible for delivering his case file to the Department of State Services (DSS) facility, where he is being held, had failed to do so.
Kanu prayed for an adjournment until Monday, October 27, to access the case file and familiarise himself with its contents. He further stated he was expecting witnesses from the United Kingdom, the United States, Kenya, and Ethiopia, and requested an order allowing him to meet with them over the weekend for preparation.
The court granted his request, instructing the DSS to allow Kanu receive visitors on Saturday and Sunday. Justice James Omotosho adjourned the trial till October 27 for Kanu to open his defence, warning that the six days initially granted for his defence, which began on October 23, will not be extended.
Breaking: Kanu fails to open defence, cites former counsel’s retention of case file
Farmer injured in herders’ attack in Konduga
By: Zagazola Makama
A farmer has been hospitalized after sustaining severe machete wounds in an attack by suspected herders at Jakana Village, Konduga Local Government Area of Borno State.
The incident occurred on Wednesday when a group of herders reportedly led their cattle into a beans farm belonging to locals and grazed on the crops.
During an attempt by Mohammad Ali Fantami, 30, of Kadamari Lamboa bush, to drive the cattle away, one of the herders allegedly attacked him with a machete, severing his left hand and inflicting deep cuts on his neck before escaping.
The victim was evacuated to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH), where he is said to be responding to treatment.
Efforts are ongoing to trace and apprehend the perpetrators as investigations continue into the incident.
End
Troops repel another ISWAP ambush, recover arms, motorcycles in Magumeri
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Nigerian Army under Operation Hadin Kai have foiled a series of ambush attacks by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) terrorists along the Damasak–Gubio road in Magumeri axis of Borno State.
Zagazola Makama gathered that the troops, who were on a fighting patrol as part of Operation Desert Sanity IV, came under fire from suspected terrorists on arrival at Binduldul.
Sources stated that the troops responded with superior firepower, forcing the terrorists to flee in disarray. Reinforcements led by the Commanding Officer of the Battalion later exploited the scene, recovering two motorcycles, one AK-47 rifle, five blankets, three praying mats, a spare motorcycle tyre and two gallons of engine oil.
The sources added that one terrorist was neutralised during the encounter.
Furthermore, at about 3:05 p.m. on the same day, while withdrawing from the area, the troops encountered another ambush involving an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack followed by heavy gunfire from ISWAP fighters near Kardio village.
The soldiers successfully repelled the assault, safely detonated another IED along their main supply route, and returned to base without any casualty.
Photographs from the operation indicated successful recovery of items and neutralisation of threats in the area.
Troops repel another ISWAP ambush, recover arms, motorcycles in Magumeri
Breaking: Kanu fails to open defence, cites former counsel’s retention of case file
Decomposed body of kidnapped man found in mining pond in Jos South
Man abducted after delivering ransom for kidnapped child in Kogi
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