News
Ebonyi Community accuses desperate politicians for latest security scare
***Condemns frivolous petition against ex-council boss
Leaders of Ekoli in Edda Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, have cautioned desperate politician to eschew all forms of strife and divisive antics capable of plunging the local council into needless confrontation.
The leaders, under the auspices of Ekoli Patriotic Front (EPF), told journalists in Abuja, Friday, that they were compelled to hand out the warning following the attempts by some errant political jobbers to orchaestrate mischief by peddling rumours against well meaning individuals from the area.
Led by Chief Agwu Chima Onyike, (President -General), Mr. Okoro Ekuma Anya (Secretary-General) and Comrade Ogbuagu Okwara, National Public Relations Officer, EPF condemned what it called misleading the petition against the former Council Chairman of Edda LGA, Dr. Eni Uduma Chima by faceless persons under the guise of Ekoli Edda Band of Hope Union.
They explained that already a copy of the communique released by the community after their meeting has been sent to the Ebonyi State Governor, Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, on the need to call to the state chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Sunday Okoro Emegha to order.
While accusing the state APC chairman of instigating shadowy figures to author frivolous petitions against his perceived rivals, EPF stated that the ongoing moves to change party leadership in the state should not be allowed to destabilise Ekoli community and Edda Local Government Area.
“As peace-loving and patriotic citizens, we are demanding that the authorities should disregard the petition titled, ‘Urgent Security update” for the reason that it is the product of scaremongers and political jobbers.
“In the same vein, we have called on the faceless authors of the petition to withdraw same immediately, particularly given that the contents are concoctions and drips with tissue of unimaginable lies calculated to malign the former council boss,” EPF stated.
The leaders denounced those “hiding behind the cover of Ekoli Band of Hope Union to instigate false security alarms against Eni Uduma Chima to create the impression that fresh crisis was brewing in Ekoli Edda community.
While urging the faceless petitioners to withdraw their petition and render public apology to Chima, who is a former two-term member of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, EPF declared: “The petition is yet another patently false conjecture by some supposedly learned Ekoli elites, who live in perennial and morbid fear of the unmatched popularity and accomplishments of our illustrious son, Eni Uduma Chima, Ph.D.”
Part of the communique, which was made available to newsmen read: “To all intents and purposes, the so-called petition, was signed by one Samuel Kalu Ama Mba, who claims to be Chairman of the Caretaker Committee of Ekoli Band of Hope Union and a perceived Assistant Secretary, one Okechukwu Oke Azu and copied to the security agencies and some government offices in Ebonyi State.
“The petition exemplifies the worst false alarms raised in recent history by those faceless characters that have always rendered ignoble services for their political paymasters, especially the State APC Chairman, Chief Stanley Okoro Emegha to stoke fear, tension and anxiety in our peaceful and peace-loving Ekoli community.
“The very poorly punctuated petition strangely had alleged that, “He (Eni) was sighted today with his group of boys with weapons in the remote part of Mogborokuma, Azuofor, Ogba Agu, and Ndi Ibom.
“We wish to clearly state that only for the fear of Hon. Barr. Eni Uduma Chima that these badly rehashed petitions are being circulated and fabricated purposely to achieve hidden political agenda they may be desperately plotting.”
EPF said it was not in doubt that the love and popular acclaim which Eni and other well meaning sons and daughters of Ekoli enjoy must have stoked the envy and hidden animosity by faceless characters and their desperate political paymasters.
Former Director-General of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Professor Tom Adaba, has passed away at the age of 84.
According to reports, he died peacefully on Saturday in Abuja.
Chief Adinoyi Joe Anivasa, Secretary of the Egbira Elders Forum, confirmed the news, stating, “I feel sad to inform you that our elder and leader, Prof. Tom A. Adaba, has answered the call of nature this morning. Further details about his burial arrangements will be communicated later.”
Born on July 2, 1941, Prof. Adaba made significant contributions to Nigeria’s broadcasting industry. Between 1988 and 1992, he became the first Nigerian to serve as President of the African Council for Communication Education.
Despite calls for suspension from the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and the Nigeria Police Force, the Osun State local government election proceeded as scheduled on Saturday.
Governor Ademola Adeleke voted in Ede North Local Government Area, describing the process as peaceful and urging residents to exercise their franchise.
The AGF, Lateef Fagbemi, cited a Court of Appeal ruling allegedly reinstating sacked local government chairmen, while the police warned of potential security threats.
However, the Osun State government insisted on holding the election, emphasizing its commitment to obeying a court directive. The opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) boycotted the polls.
Voting took place under tight security, with minimal commercial activity observed in Osogbo, the state capital.
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Commissioner for Information, Jonathan Vatsa, has indicated that Firmer President Muhammadu Buhari’s absence at the public presentation of former military ruler General Ibrahim Babangida’s autobiography, The Journey of Service, held in Abuja on Thursday was not surprising.
Speaking to journalists in Minna on Saturday, Vatsa suggested that Buhari’s no-show was a result of unresolved bitterness over the 1985 coup, in which Babangida overthrew him and subsequently detained him.
According to Vatsa, Buhari may still harbor resentment, especially over being denied the chance to bid his late mother farewell while in detention.
“It Would Have Been the 9th Wonder of the World If Buhari Had Attended”
Vatsa claimed that Buhari’s absence was expected, given the deep-seated history between the two former leaders.
“The memory of the ‘mother of all betrayals’ has not left him. It would have been the ninth wonder of the world if Buhari had attended that book launch,” he said.
The APC chieftain also linked Buhari’s perceived neglect of Niger State during his eight-year presidency to his history with Babangida.
“The whole world knows that Niger State was made a scapegoat by Buhari because of IBB. For eight years, he did not pay any serious official visit to the state, and not a single federal project was executed here. The Baro Port project was abandoned, and federal roads across the state were left in disrepair,” Vatsa alleged.
He claimed that despite the overwhelming votes Buhari received from Niger State in 2015 and 2019, the state was sidelined due to the personal history between the former presidents.
“When two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. Niger State paid for the sin of one man,” he lamented.
When asked for his opinion on the contents of IBB’s autobiography, Vatsa said he would reserve his comments until he has read and digested the book fully.
“There are certain things I expected to see in the book. Once I am done reading, I will invite you all for my comments,” he stated.
The book launch attracted several high-profile attendees, including President Bola Tinubu, former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Goodluck Jonathan, and Yakubu Gowon, as well as former military head of state Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Other dignitaries included former Ghanaian President Akufo-Addo, former Sierra Leonean President Ernest Koroma, and ex-vice presidents Atiku Abubakar, Yemi Osinbajo, and Namadi Sambo, alongside traditional rulers and state governors.
Buhari’s absence, however, remained a major talking point, reinforcing speculations that the 1985 coup remains a sore point in Nigeria’s political history.
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