Continued cult war
in Rivers leaves 16 dead, many injured and palace burnt
No fewer than 16
people are feared dead following cult crises that broke out in two different
local government areas of Rivers State, Sunday.
It was alleged that
14 people were killed by the said cultists at Kono Boue and Gbam Boue
communities of Khana council, while two people were killed in Ishiodu village,
Emohua community, Emohua council.
It was also
gathered that seven people were abducted when the bandits struck at Khana
council, while many properties were also destroyed. However, there are
conflicting reports on the number of deaths in the Khana incident.
Whereas some
reported 20, others said 14, while the Police claimed five people lost their
lives. The clash in Khana is believed to be a reprisal attack from the Iceland
cult over the killing of a notable member of their gang earlier.
The Paramount Ruler
of Kono Bo-ue community in Khana council, HRH, Mene Taalor Tornwe, described
the incident as shocking, adding that the cult boys were incited against him
and other members of the community.
Tornwe, while
condemning the killings and burning of his palace and other buildings by the
cultists, noted that he had carried out the instruction of the governor of the
state to restore peace in the area, but regretted that some persons incited the
cultists against him. Also, the Community Development Committee Chairman,
Prince Christian Borlo-One, alleged that over 40 persons were feared killed,
adding that some persons were beheaded and five abducted.
He also called on
government and security agencies to urgently intervene so the community will
not be totally deserted. Meanwhile, the Rivers State Police Command’s Public
Relations Officer, DSP Nnamdi Omoni, said the Police are aware of the
incidents, noting that two people died in Ishiodu village and five in the Khana
incident.
Biafra: IPOB reveals why
Nigerian Government shutdown Port Harcourt, Calabar, Warri seaports
The Indigenous
People of Biafra, IPOB, Monday, said that the Federal Government’s closure of
the seaports in the South-South was to strangulate the economy of South-East.
This was part of a
statement signed by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful on
Monday.
In the statement,
Powerful quoted IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as demanding the reopening of
Warri, Calabar and Port Harcourt seaports.
The IPOB described
their continued closure as one of the injustices it had been fighting.
The statement
added, “IPOB is about the liberation of all Biafra territories. Only mischief
makers will imply otherwise.
“Yet, some people
from the coastal part of Biafraland will beat their chest to admit to working
towards one Nigeria and foolishly channel their grievances against the same
IPOB that is trying to save all of us.
“These traitors
hiding under the name of one pro-Biafra group or another cleverly forgot that
their masters in the Federal Government have reached an agreement to build a
dry port worth $250 million in Ibadan, while Igweocha a city the British
colonial masters renamed Port Harcourt in Rivers State has no functional port.
“It is on record
that I have consistently asked for the reopening of Warri, Calabar and Igweocha
seaports.
“For those accusing
us of making IPOB an Igbo affair, Warri is not in Igboland, neither is Calabar,
but as anyone in the know will testify, I have always insisted these demands of
reopening South-South seaports, be met before any formal dialogue can take
place.
“It was not a
Biafran or Igboman that killed Ken Saro Wiwa, neither was it an Igbo man that
killed Adaka Boro. Why it is that Yoruba that support northern hegemony gets
everything whereas the governing elite of the coastal region loyal to the North
cannot attract the same level of interest?
“A new mega-seaport
is being built in Badagry to add to Tin Can and Apapa Wharfs but South-South
seaports were closed down to strangulate the economy of Biafra.
“They have railway
lines crisscrossing the entire West, but there is nothing in our land (South
South and South East).
“Where are the
Fulani approved elites in the South-South or the Arewa Consultative Forum
anointed leaders of South-East? Don’t we have resources for a Seaport site?,
yet $250m will be spent to build an artificial one.
“These traitors
will not fight their oppressor, but are comfortably happy to accept crumbs
falling off the master’s table to fight IPOB, that is fighting to liberate
them.
“I have never and
will never collect money from anyone to sell or compromise our puritanical
stance because unlike these stomach infrastructure agitators, I will sacrifice
anything sacrificeable to get Biafra.
“I rejected every
financial inducement when I was incarcerated and detained in Kuje, I would not
insult myself by accepting anything from anybody now. I want to tell Ohaneze
Ndigbo leaders, Igbo governors, PANDEF leaders and every other meaningless
‘settle me and my boys groups’ out there that our problem is their lack of
patriotic discipline and weak mindedness. IPOB has gone way too far in this
effort to restore Biafra.
“The jihadist Arewa
core north have given N100 billion to Fulani Herdsmen killers, but how to stop
30th May Biafra Heroes Remembrance Day, is of paramount issue to Igbo
politicians. Is this not the height of misplaced priorities?
“It’s a shame to
the Old Eastern region, how the North keeps on messing with our brain because
some people cannot afford to resist financial inducement. They keep on fooling
our so called leaders and disgracing them out of power in the end.
“The level of humiliation
and marginalization is now a shame to our region. What a shame…look at how
Okoroawusa is being disgraced from pillar to post after serving his Fulani
kinsmen. His only mistake is that he has an Igbo name. They have even forgotten
that he is one of them. That is the extent of their hatred for anything
Biafra.”
Nigerian Army reacts to
Wike’s oil bunkering allegation against General Sarham
The Nigerian Army
has reacted to Governor Nyesom Wike’s allegations against the General Officer
Commanding (GOC) 6 Division and Land Component Commander Operation DELTA SAFE,
Major General Jamil Sarham.
Wike
had accused Sarham of promoting illegal bickering in the Niger Delta region
to enable him finance his ambition to be appointed the Chief of Army Staff.
Reacting, Colonel
Aminu Iliyasu, Deputy Director Army Public Relations, in a statement on Monday,
said the claims were false and a deliberate effort to tarnish the towering
image of the Chief of Army Staff and the GOC 6 Division.
The statement noted
that the campaign of calumny against General Sarham and the Nigerian Army
leadership by Governor Wike did not just start.
“Recall that on
22nd February 2019, Governor Wike brazenly alleged that there was an attempt to
exterminate his life by assassins organised by the GOC 6 Division.
“As weighty as the
allegation was, we are yet to know any action taken by Mr Wike that guarantees
his safety. Mr Wike has since failed to use civilised legitimate options to
prove his allegations against Maj Gen Sarham.
“On the mischievous
accusation against General Sarham leaking proceeds of State Security Council
Meetings to criminals in Rivers State, Mr Wike knows well that Maj Gen Sarham
is not a member of the Rivers State Security Council, neither has he ever
approached the gates of Rivers State Government House since his assumption of office
as the GOC 6 Division.
“Mr Wike only came
face to face with General Sarham on the 15th of January 2019 during the 2019
Armed Forces Remembrance Day Parade at Isaac Boro Park. However, the Nigerian
Army challenge Wike to provide the public with any evidence of such meetings
with Maj Gen Sarham in attendance.
“Accordingly,
Wike’s allegation against Major General Sarham’s selfish involvement in illegal
oil bunkering is another reckless, spurious and mischievous accusation. Hence,
Headquarters 6 Division wish to request the Governor to take the most civilised
way of putting up a petition to the relevant authorities to make a point.
“Mr Wike’s
resentment against the GOC is based on the latter’s choice of professionalism
and integrity over the billions of naira offered to him by the Governor to
compromise the 2019 General Elections. His refusal to be bought over and the
rejection of such hefty offer is the genesis of Wike’s hatred and vociferous
criticisms against Maj Gen Sarham.
“Consequently, 6
Division Nigerian Army wish to reiterate its commitment to the protection of
lives and properties as well as the protection of critical national
infrastructure in its Area of Responsibility for the benefit of the nation. The
Division wishes to also state that no amount of blackmail and Area boy
gerrymandering will affect its resolve and commitment to discharge its roles
professionally and in line with the vision of the Chief of Army Staff,” he
said.
NSITF: NLC explodes as
Ngige gives NUPENG deadline to submit statement of account
The Nigeria Labour
Congress (NLC) has accused the Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris
Ngige of intimidating organised labour.
NLC President,
Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in a statement on Monday, said Ngige wants to suppress
workers over the disagreement about the board of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust
Fund (NSITF).
Wabba disclosed
that the Ministry of Labour had asked the National Union of Petroleum and
Natural Gas (NUPENG) to submit its statement of account for the year 2018 to
the Registrar of trade unions within 72 hours in contravention of the law which
stipulate 30 days for such request.
He said: “The
Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), an affiliate of
the NLC has intimated us of the continued harassment, intimidation,
victimization and persecution of its members and the leadership of the union by
the Ministry of Labour under the watch of Dr. Chris Ngige, the Minister of
Labour and Employment.
“NUPENG received a
letter from the Office of the Minister of Labour dated 13th May 2019 with
Reference No: ITU/FR/45/VII/15 requesting NUPENG to submit its 2018 Annual
Financial Return within seventy-two (72) hours to the Federal Ministry of
Labour and Employment.
“We wish to state
that the directive by Dr. Chris Ngige for NUPENG to submit its Annual Financial
Return within seventy-two (72) hours is in gross violation of Section 40 of the
Trade Union (Amendment) Act 2005 and therefore an exercise in illegality and
lawlessness.”
Wabba said that
section 40 of the Trade Union (Amendment) Act states that “Without prejudice to
the foregoing provisions of this Part of this Act, the Registrar may at any
time call upon the treasurer, the committee of management or any other official
of a registered body to prepare and submit to him within A PERIOD OF THIRTY
DAYS from the date of the call letter detailed accounts of the funds of the
body in respect of any particular period; and any accounts submitted under this
section shall show in detail such information as the Registrar may direct, and
shall, if the Registrar so directs, be audited by the duly appointed auditor
before being submitted to the Registrar”.
According to him,
“In view of the above quoted provisions of the Trade Union Act which the
Minister of Labour and Employment is under oath to protect and defend, we wish
to unequivocally posit that the cruel urgency communicated in his letter
suggests only one thing – unveiled desperation to disorganize and destroy trade
unionism in Nigeria.
“It is also not a
coincidence that this is coming on the heels of our recent protests against the
activities of the Minister of Labour and Employment to undermine organized
labour and trade unions in Nigeria.
“We wish to remind
the Minister that the right to protest and picketing are guaranteed by Section
40 of the Nigerian constitution, Section 43 of the Trade Union (Amendment) Act
and Conventions 98 and 78 of the International Labour Organization (ILO).
“Article 2, part 1
of the ILO Convention 98 explicitly forbids government and employers from
meddling in the affairs of trade unions, providing that ´Workers’ and
employers’ organizations shall enjoy adequate protection against any acts of
interference by each other or each other’s agents or members in their
establishment, functioning or administration.´
“We are privy to
the fact that shortly after our last protest, a directive was issued from the
office of the Minister of Labour to officers in the Ministry of Labour and
Employment to fish for grounds on which to deal decisively with organized
Labour. We understand that the Nigeria Labour Congress is the primary target in
the current overdrive to run trade unionism in Nigeria underground.
“It was only when
the fishing expedition failed to grab anything against the Nigeria Labour
Congress that the hunters turned their barrels on NUPENG. This attitude of
vindictiveness is not only unbecoming of “the only competent Authority on
Labour matters” but also uncivilized, ungentlemanly, undemocratic, uncut and
unpolished.
“Unfortunately,
even the most despicable dictators in global annals have never descended to
this low of shameful abuse of public office and trust to hound, persecute and
terrorize innocent workers, national labour centres and their affiliate unions.
“It is highly
disgusting that this behaviour is coming from a so-called democrat who has had
the privilege of seeking public acquiescence especially the votes of workers
while contesting for the position of the governor of a state.
“Given that the
intention of the Minister’s recent directive is aimed at achieving narrow,
petty and selfish ends, we demand the withdrawal of Dr. Chris Ngige’s letter to
NUPENG dated May 13, 2019, Ref. No. ITU/FR/45/VII/15. We also call for a public
apology from the Minister of Labour for yet another round of assault on
organized labour in Nigeria.
“Furthermore, we
demand that the Minister of Labour and Employment publicly guarantees that he
would desist from further harassment, victimization and persecution of workers,
our trade unions and the two labour centres in Nigeria. We do not wish that the
current fragile industrial peace in our country collapses completely on the
account of endless provocations by the Minister of Labour and Employment.”
