Tribunal Judgment: Atiku Speaks, Surrenders?

The People's Democratic Party's flag bearer in the 2019 presidential election Atiku Abubaka yesterday addressed Nigerians and more eclectically his supporters.

Read the full speech below. 


"If I do not play my part in making it possible for other orphaned children, indigent youths and the less privileged, to replicate and even surpass my path to significance, I would have failed my Maker.

If I do not ensure that the ladder I climbed remains accessible to those at the bottom, middle and top tiers of society, I would not have fulfilled my purpose.

And only by ensuring that democracy is not just done, but seen to be done, can Nigeria and Nigerians have a sense that this our dear land is indeed a land where Unity, Faith, Peace. 

It is for this, and other patriotic reasons, that I am pursuing this judicial route: To ensure that the votes of Nigerians count and are counted.

Yes, those who do not want this as Nigeria’s reality, will use every trick in the book to undermine, discourage, misinform and mislead, but with God’s help and the support of Nigerians, we will ensure that Nigeria makes a course correction away from tyranny and towards democracy.

We must return to being Africa’s bastion of democracy, where the rights to Freedom of Speech and Freedom after the Speech, are guaranteed.

We must stand together to pursue this just cause all the way, so that our judiciary are not afraid to do their jobs and have to be wary of blackmail, intimidation, and victimisation.

I note the immense outpouring of goodwill from ordinary Nigerians in every nook and cranny of Nigeria and from all regions, religions and relationships. Once again I thank you all for your support.

I also thank the governors elected on the platform of my party, the
@OfficialPDPNig
, as well as the National Executive Committee, for their unanimous and unambiguous support for the judicial phase of this struggle, especially after it was announced that we would go on to appeal.

I urge all Nigerians to continue their support for this recourse to constitutional order via the courts. Even if there is little or nothing you can do to ensure that justice is done in Nigeria, just believe that it will happen. Let us never underestimate the effect of our belief.

Finally, I say to all concerned, that we will all die and give account of our lives to our Creator.

Thank you and may God bless Nigeria".

Mazi Kanu To Confront Buhari At 74th UNGA, New York

President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to attend the 74th Session of United Nations General Assembly in New York, United States of America on Sunday.

The theme for this year is “Galvanising multilateral efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion” President Buhari will be speaking at the summit.

“He is scheduled as number five speaker on the first day of the debates, another plus for the country as most world leaders will be listening in the General Assembly Hall, while the global audience watches on live television".

The Presidency said, “The President would be accompanied to New York by governors Abdullahi Sule, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and Adegboyega Oyetola of Nasarawa, Kebbi and Osun states respectively; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Environment, Dr Muhammad Mahmoud; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; and Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, among others.

Meanwhile one the IPOB members hinted that it is possible that Nnamdi Kanu will be on ground to confronts Buhari on the abuses and human rights violations.

“What is he going to say about poverty eradication when he has made Nigeria the capital of poverty in the world” he said.

26 Pupils, Two Teachers Killed Zin Liberia School Fire

A huge fire at a Liberian Koranic school killed at least 26 pupils and two teachers on Wednesday when flames engulfed their dormitory, in one of the worst disasters of its kind for the West African nation.
The boys were sleeping at the school when the overnight fire began, said police spokesman Moses Carter, adding that an electrical fault could have caused the blaze.

President George Weah visited the site in Paynesville, on the outskirts of the capital Monrovia, and said the cause was still unknown.

We are here to encourage parents of the victims to have strength because it is painful to lose your kids in this manner,” Weah told reporters at the scene.

The president’s office said 26 pupils between the ages of 10 and 20 died along with two teachers. The police spokesman said 27 students had been killed.

On Wednesday evening, the president of neighbouring Guinea, Alpha Conde, said several of his country’s nationals died in the blaze.

In a statement, he expressed “great emotion” over the deaths and gave his “deepest condolences to the Liberian people and the Guinean community in Liberia” adding that he was following the investigation closely.

“We extend our sympathy to the bereaved families. We don’t know the cause of the fire yet, but we will encourage our investigators to find how it happened,” he added.

Rescuers in white masks and surgical gloves carried the children’s bodies in bags from the burnt-out building as crowds of people and relatives pressed together outside.

“Our team is investigating the cause of the fire,” the police spokesman said. “It may be electrical,” he added while refusing to rule out the possibility that the fire was a criminal act.

The children were asleep
“I was sleeping when I heard a noise outside. My wife opened the back door and we saw smoke coming from the front. We came out and saw fire at the back,” said local resident Zazay Ballah, who said they had helped in the rescue efforts.

“We went for water, trying to put it out… When the firefighters came, the fire was already going down.”

The victims were buried swiftly in a collective ceremony, in the Muslim tradition.

In an earlier tweet, Weah offered condolences to the families of those affected.

“My prayers go out to the families of the children that died last night in Paynesville City as a result of a deadly fire that engulfed their school building,” he wrote.

“This is a tough time for the families of the victims and all of Liberia.”

The Liberian authorities are all too familiar with deadly fires, often caused by malfunctioning generators, though “not on this scale,” the presidential spokesman said.

The majority of Liberians are Christian but there is a sizeable minority of Muslims among the 4.5 million population.

Liberia is one of the least developed nations in the world, and its recent history has been blighted by civil wars and the deadly Ebola virus.

Take Urgent Action Against Abuse On Biafrans By Nigerian Government; Nnamdi Kanu Tells UN

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, yesterday at the United Nations headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, demanded urgent action against the alleged numerous rights abuses, allegedly inflicted on a daily basis on Biafrans; just as it sought the needed support for Biafra’s self-determination as enshrined in law, statute and various United Nations conventions.

Kanu also drew the attention of the United Nations, to the alleged incessant killing of Biafrans in their own land by terrorist Fulani herdsmen, alleged extortion and killing of Biafran motorcyclists and commercial drivers by Nigerian Army and Police over refusal to part with N50 bribery, killing of Biafrans in the Northern hemisphere by Islamic extremists. Citing some of the things that formed the basis for its agitation for the separate state of Biafra, which it said existed before Lord Lugard’s Amalgamation of 1914, Mazi Kanu, also disclosed the alleged disfranchising Biafrans in the Western and Northern part of Nigeria, illegal take-over of Biafrans’ property by Lagos State government, systematic oppression and economic emasculation of the Biafran.

He also included alleged “forceful Islamization of the country under the present administration, illegal detention of unarmed agitators, flagrant contempt of court orders, and incessant abduction and extrajudicial killings of its members and their families members, as also basis for its agitation.”

Other issues he raised to the United Nations were “the continued alleged illegal detention of Omoleye Sowore, the relentless persecution of the members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria led by Sheikh El-Zakzaky, alleged ongoing tragic ethnic cleansing in the Middle Belt and plight of Christian minorities in core North.” Mazi Kanu in his presentation to the United Nations, titled “Our case will no longer be ignored”, made available by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, also, raised the case of Rural Grazing Area, RUGA,by what it described as stealth, to the august body, insisted that Biafrans will never allow alleged Fulani terror settlements in any Biafraland.

Accompanying Mazi Kanu to the United Nations headquarters in Switzerland, where he had series of meeting with various UN agencies and officials, were IPOB deputy leaders, Mazi Uche Mefor, Head of Directorate of State of IPOB, Mazi Chika Edoziem, the Head of Finance, Lady Nnennaya Anya, and other top members of the group. Emerging from the meeting to address IPOB members and supporters from different countries of the world, who converged at Switzerland, Mazi Kanu assured them that “every issue concerning our people Biafrans, is now before the various arms and agencies of the United Nations and our case will no longer be ignored".

“We have successfully presented Biafra plight to the United Nations officials, demanding urgent action against the numerous rights abuses inflicted daily upon Biafrans and the need to support the inalienable and undeniable right of Biafrans to self-determination as enshrined in law, statute and various UN conventions. “The case of RUGA settlement by stealth was also raised and the august body was left in doubt that indigenous Biafrans will never allow Fulani terror settlements in Biafraland.“Every issue concerning our people is now before the various arms and agencies of the United Nations. Our case will no longer be ignored".

IDN

CITATION ON MARTIN CHINAGOROM OPARA

Life, as often said, is a stage and every being existing in life have roles to play while on this stage. The adventure of life is in such a way that we are formed by our choices, thoughts and actions. Such that we think what we desire, act what we think and become what we act.

The measure of ones existence is not in the days or years of his life but in the living of his life. Thus, this citation on Ikemba Martin Chinagorom Opara is a brief look into the many exploits of his existence.

Brave and vibrant Martin Chinagorom Opara is the 4th son and  6th child of late Nnadinma Linus Mmerenini and Florence Nkechinyere Opara of Obohia Logara, Ngor Okpala LGA. of Imo State. Martin attended Community School Logara as well as Logara High School at the early stages of his academics before proceeding to Alvan Ikoku College of Education (affiliated to the UNN) for a degree in Political Science. While at Alvan, Martin was an all rounder, very notable and reliable goal-getter both in academics, religious and political activities. He was a strong member of the Nigerian Federation of Catholic Students, NFCS where he served as Abuja Convention Planing Committee Chairman. He was also the Assistant Secretary Political Science Students Associations, POLSSA before his historic election as the Students' Union Government, (SUG) President of the prestigious institution.
While serving as the SUG President, Comrade Martin Opara challenged and changed the status quo in students politics and  performed excellently so well even far beyond the expectations of the students and management of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri. During the reign of his presidency, he was again elected by his colleagues (SUG Presidents) in Imo State as Chairman, Joint Campus Committee, JCC of the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS. At the end of his outstanding academic sojourn, he  finished strong at Alvan, making a second class, (upper division) from the affiliate institution - University of Nigeria Nsukka, UNN.

After his first degree, he proceeded to the Imo State University, IMSU Owerri for an M.Sc in Educational Management and Planning.
Judith McNaught an American writer once said “You can’t outwit fate by standing on the sidelines placing little side bets about the outcome of life. Either you wade in and risk everything you have to play the game or you don’t play at all. And if you don’t play you can’t win.”  Driven by his love for public service and desire to impact greatly in the society, after his M.Sc, Martin made an academic reverse for a degree in Law at the same Imo State University, Owerri.

Martin Opara has also made notable marks  in community service having served his dear Logara people in various capacities, as two-term Secretary General of Logara Community Development Union, LCDU, and currently  Vice President General of the same union. He left an indelible footprint in youth activism and unionism struggle having served as  President of Owerri Zonal Youth Platform.

He is the President of Chidera Youth Organization, a youth support group of Hon. Bede Eke (Member Federal House of Representatives) and was the Youth Mobilizer of Ngor Okpala PDP Campaign Council 2019. Presently he is the President General of the apex sociocultural organization in Owerri Zone, Olu Owerri.
Martin Opara has recieved several honours, awards and Chieftancy titles. In 2010 he received Students' Ambassador Award from all the tertiary institutions in Imo State; also the Catholic Youth Organization of Nigeria, CYON St Patrick Logara honored him with  Soldier of Christ award, to mention but a few.

He holds the Chieftaincy titles of Ikemba 1 of Logara and  Enyioha 1 of Eziama Oparanadim.

Chief Martin Opara is an accomplished young man, a public commentator and a responsible family man. He is blessed with a supportive pretty wife Dora and two children, Paschal Osinachi and Christabel Chimsom Opara.

He is the publisher of Eastern Vanguard Newspapers. He is a consultant with specialization in educational consultancy after working between 2011 and 2015 with the JENCEL Consults LTD.
He is currently an Executive Board Member of the Owerri Communications LTD, an ICT specialized consortium.

Chief Martin Opara is like a book whose next edition is more interesting than the current. As time and events happens, Ikemba continues to evolve to the best of his version.

Presidential Tribunal Dismisses INEC’s Motion Against Atiku

Abuja – The Presidential Election Petition Tribunal sitting at the Court of Appeal, on Wednesday, has dismissed a preliminary objection by the Independent National Electoral Commission, seeking the striking out of the petition filed by the Peoples Democratic Party and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar, challenging the declaration of Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress as winner of the February 23, presidential election.
INEC’s motion dated May 15, was filed by its counsel, Yunus Usman SAN.
Specifically, INEC contended that the non-joining of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as a party in the petition rendered the case incompetent and therefore liable to be dismissed.
But in a lead judgment, Chairman of the 5-man PEPT, Justice Mohammed Garba held that the non-joinder of Osinbajo could not render the petition incompetent.
Justice Garba stated that the VP is only an interested party and not a necessary party because he was chosen by the 2nd respondent, President Buhari and the APC (3rd respondent) as a running mate.
In a unanimous ruling, the tribunal held that “the motion of the 1st respondent is not well-grounded in law, it lacks merit and is hereby refused".

FG Announces Mass Recruitment

The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC), on Thursday, announced nationwide recruitment into various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

An announcement on the commission’s website advised all qualified Nigerians who currently hold OND, HND, BA/BSc are advised to apply.

According to FCSC, forms are available in all Geo-political zones.

The statement reads in part:

“The Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) wishes to announce vacancies in the following MDAs:

(i) Federal Ministry of Information;

(ii) Federal Ministry of Environment;

(iii) Federal Ministry of Justice;

(iv) Federal Ministry of Trade and Investments; and

(v) Bureau of Public Procurement.

On how to Apply: Qualified Applicants can access Application Forms on-line on FCSC 

Click here
Website http://www.fedcivilservice.gov.ng

Collect FCSC Forms from Chairmen of the States Civil Service Commissions in the Following Geo-political Zones:

(a) North-West (Kaduna);

(b) North-East (Yola);

(c) North-Central & Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mabushi (Abuja);

(d) South-East (Owerri);

(e) South-South (Port Harcourt);

(f) South-West (Ibadan).

FCSC Headquarters, 4 Abidjan Street, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja.

“For avoidance of doubt, the application form is free. Completed Application Forms must be submitted where collected on or not later than six (6) Weeks from the date of this Publication (Advertisement).

“All Application Forms should be submitted in a sealed envelope clearly stating the Ministry, the post applied for and addressed to the: Hon. Chairman, Federal Civil Service Commission,4 Abidjan Street, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja.

“NOTE: The FCSC is an executive body in Nigeria that has the authority to make appointments and transfers and to exercise disciplinary control over all Federal Civil Servants. No officer can be appointed into the Civil Service without authorization from the Federal Civil Service Commission if they have been convicted of a crime, or had previously been employed in the Government Service and had been dismissed or asked to resign" .