News
IMO STATE GOVERNMENT
PRESS RELEASE
Ohakim: Elect Uzodimma For Second Term To Guarantee Imo Charter Of Equity In Nov. 11 Guber Poll
By: Michael Mike
The former governor Imo State, Dr. Ikedi Ohakim has called on the electorate in the State to elect the incumbent governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma for second term in the November 11 governorship election in order to guarantee the implementation of Imo charter of equity.
Ohakim stated this on Monday in his Owerri Residence during an interaction with journalists, adding that the Imo charter of equity which started in 1998 was only truncated by 2011 by Senator Rochas Okorocha.
He maintained that it is only the incumbent governor, Uzodimma that can implement the charter to the fullest, having only one more term to complete his Constitutionally guaranteed eight years in office.
Ohakim who traced the historical background of the charter however, blamed the collapse on the lies sold to the Imo people by Okorocha that he would serve only one term as well as promoting false allegation against him of flogging a reverend father, hence the Catholics without proper investigation bought the lies which eventually truncated the charter of equity in the State.
According to the former governor, I totally agree with the elders who drafted the current charter with the proviso that its implementation will begin after the incumbent governor, Senator Uzodimma, would have completed his second term in 2028.
“Given our experience in 2003 and 2015 – forget the aberration of 2011 – we have to take into consideration the factor of a sitting governor. It is heartwarming that Governor Uzodimma is favourably disposed to the idea of returning to the charter because it will take a sitting governor to make it work; as we witnessed under Governor Achike Udenwa and as it the case in all the States around us where power sharing is working.
But if Uzodimma gets his second term through another round of scrambling for power among the three zones, it will again be ‘to your tents oh Isreal’. In other words, contrary to the thinking in some quarters that Governor Uzodimma might have engineered the new interest on the Charter,the truth is that it will be impossible to implement it without taking his interest – as an incumbent – into account,” he stressed.
On insecurity, Ohakim admitted that the situation is worrisome in the State and across the South East, but he exonerated Governor Uzodimma from the insinuations that he deliberately hoisted it in the State.
He described such notion as nonsensical even when the governor and himself had been victims of insecurity, noting that Governor Uzodimma is on top of the situation.
Ohakim maintained that verifiable statistics with the Nigeria Police does not show that Imo State has the highest number of crime in the South East.
“As a private citizen, I move around the South East and I can say without any fear of contradiction that on the matter of insecurity, our dear State, Imo, is not worse off. That does not mean that we should give any room for complacency but we should not blackmail ourselves and act in a manner that would rubbish the collective integrity of our dear State and it’s people.
“I have been personally involved in several meetings on the matter of insecurity in the South East and I know that the governors are doing quite a lot. Whether we like it or not, the matter rests squarely on the shoulders of the Federal Government; which is why I would once again restate my position that in this highly tempestuous time, we need a governor who enjoys a good rapour with the federal authorities as Governor Uzodimma does,” he stated.
Ohakim also called the youths to try as much as possible to protest the elders instead of being used as tools to destroy their future and render the society ungovernable.
IMO STATE GOVERNMENT
Nine injured in farmers–herders clash in Nasarawa
By: Zagazola Makama
No fewer than nine persons were injured on Monday following a clash between farmers and herders in Loko community, Nasarawa State.
Zagazola report that the incident occurred at about noon on Dec. 15 in Bakono village, Loko area, after a dispute over alleged damage to farmland.
The source said the farmland involved belonged to one Bako Usman.
According to the source, the clash resulted in injuries to five farmers and four herders.
Security forces stormed the scene to restore order, while the injured persons were rushed to the General Hospital, Loko, where they were admitted and are responding to treatment.
Sources said that a stakeholders’ meeting had been convened in the community to prevent further escalation of the crisis.
According to the sources, confidence-building patrols are ongoing, the situation is being closely monitored and the area remains relatively calm.
Nine injured in farmers–herders clash in Nasarawa
Soldier killed as troops clash with suspected militia in Taraba
By: Zagazola Makama
A soldier has been killed, while two others are missing following an attack on troops escorting farmers in Takum Local Government Area of Taraba State.
Zagazola gathered that the incident occurred on Monday during a security operation in a bush area of Takum, which has been prone to clashes involving militia elements.
The source said soldiers from a special forces unit along with police, NSCDC were deployed to provide security for Tiv farmers harvesting their farm produce when they were attacked by hoodlums suspected to be local militia in Taraba state.
According to the source, one soldiers was killed during the attack.
The source further disclosed that following the incident, soldiers cordoned off the venue of the Miyetti Allah executives’ election at the FGR Samsokwa Hall, in Takum, and arrested male executives of the association present at the venue. Though it was yet to establish if they were involved in the attack.
Another sources pointed accusing finger at the Taraba state special adviser on security allegedly to be behind the Militia. Though, Zagazola cannot independently verify the claim.
Meanwhile, security forces have arrested a group of suspected armed bandits in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. The suspects were caught with AK-47 rifles during an operation carried out on Friday.
After their arrest, the suspects were taken into custody. In a video that later surfaced online, the men were seen lying face down with their hands tied while security operatives questioned them about where they got the weapons.
One of the suspects alleged that some officials of the Kwara State government gave them both the vehicle and the rifles. He claimed they had been operating in the area under the cover of patrol duties.
According to him, the weapons did not belong to them personally. He said their leader collected the rifles and that they often went on patrol together with some individuals he mentioned by name. He insisted that the guns belonged to those officials.
Soldier killed as troops clash with suspected militia in Taraba
Gunmen abduct five workers at construction site in Kwara
By: Zagazola Makama
Gunmen suspected to be bandits have abducted five workers at a construction site along the Sabaja/Owa-Onire Road in Kwara State.
Zagazola report that the incident was reported at about 4:30 p.m. on Monday by Alhaji Suleiman Abdullah Olanrewaju, manager of Fix Contracting Engineering Company.
The source said Olanrewaju reported that the abduction occurred earlier in the day at about 11:40 a.m. while the workers were on site when the gunmen attacked and whisked them away.
Those abducted were identified as Engr. Ademola Afolabi, Engr. Umar Lade, Fatai and Akin, both labourers, as well as a driver identified as Yusuf.
According to the source, the complainant said he had earlier reported the incident to the military before notifying the police.
Upon receipt of the report, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in Oreke mobilised a team of police operatives who linked up with the military and local vigilantes to comb the surrounding bushes in a bid to rescue the victims and arrest the perpetrators.
Investigation into the incident is ongoing, while security agencies said further developments would be communicated.
End
Gunmen abduct five workers at construction site in Kwara
Nine injured in farmers–herders clash in Nasarawa
Soldier killed as troops clash with suspected militia in Taraba
Gunmen abduct five workers at construction site in Kwara
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