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Fulani Killings: Resign Now, Oduduwa Youth Tell Buhari …As Benue People Storm Abuja In Protest …We’ve No Control Over Fulani Men -Sultan

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The Igbimo Oduduwa Youth Consultative Forum (IOYCF) has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to resign if he cannot guarantee the security of Nigerians.
The call was made in reaction to the killings in Benue State by herdsmen that have claimed well over seventy lives in recent times.
A statement by the forum, yesterday, read “The spate of killings in this country, particularly in the northern part of the country calls for a serious attention. By the clear provisions of Section 14 of the Constitution, it is the sacred and fundamental responsibility of the government to protect its citizens. What we are witnessing in our nation today is the product of disintegration as a people. It is the result of unsettled grievances.
“Today is the tomorrow we never cared to cater for! Although we are very eager and curious as citizens of this great country to heap blame on the colonial masters who solemnized the marriage of the northern protectorate with southern protectorate without first obtaining the consent of both parties to the marriage.
“But the point is that we have been in this marriage for over 100 years. It is expected that we must have learnt how to tolerate one another but painfully today is the pay for the evil acts of Nigerians not colonial masters. What we are witnessing today in our dear country is what tribalism and religion has brought us.
“Notwithstanding, the Federal Government should wake up to its responsibility. My heart bled when I read the position of the media aide to the president claiming Fulani herdsmen equally killed under Goodluck Jonathan-led government. This unguarded and reckless statement credited to the media aide provoked my thought to ask what then is the change we voted for? Does that connote we should expect the killings of innocent Nigerians to continue unabated? Does that mean this government has failed us or should we rather be expecting another Messiah to take us out of this doldrums of killings and maiming of Nigerians by some selected Nigerians who believe they are above the law. I think the law is sacrosanct, according to the dictum of Lon Fuller that ‘be you ever so high, the law is above you’. The Fulani herdsmen are not ghosts but Nigerians and as such are not immune from arrest and investigation. It is our stern belief that injury to one is injury to all.
“Consequently, we the Igbimo Oduduwa Youth Consultative Forum (IOYCF) being the umbrella body for all the Oduduwa youth hereby call on President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure discrete and holistic investigation into the gruesome murders of innocent Nigerians in Benue State and other parts of the country immediately to ensure the perpetrators are brought to book, otherwise the President should resign”.
Meanwhile, Benue State indigenes in large numbers, yesterday, stormed Abuja, the nation’s capital in protest of the wanton killings of their people by Fulani herdsmen and the ‘lukewarm’ attitude of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, in nipping the situation in the board.
Tiv, Idoma, Igede and other tribes in Benue, both young and old, arrived Abuja en-route Makurdi as early as 10am, and converged at the Unity Fountain where they addressed the press.
No fewer than 5,000 Benue indigenes have lost their lives with unquantified property destroyed by Fulani marauders in the last six years.
In February, 2016, the Fulani herdsmen hit Akwu, Aila and other villages in Agatu local government, killing 230 farmers in a day, the number later rose to 500 within two weeks.
Most recently, the people of Guma and Logo local government areas woke up to the news of the mindless killings of their people on Monday, 1st January, 2018, where over 80 people were said to have lost their lives.
However, about 73 bodies were recovered and given mass burial at the state capital, Makurdi, last week.
While the National Assembly is currently debating on the state of insecurity and proffering a national summit on security, the Fulani militia struck again last Wednesday, killing at least, five persons.
Addressing newsmen in Abuja, yesterday during the rally, former member House of Assembly and former commissioner in Benue State, Hon Rebecca Apezan, said the President had abandoned Benue people at the moment of disaster and grief, and had decided to pitch tent with his Fulani brethren.
Apezan berated Buhari for not attending the mass burial in Makurdi or sending Federal Government delegation, saying, “he values cows more than human lives”.
She regretted that Benue people voted overwhelmingly for Buhari in the 2015 presidential election, saying it was because Benue loved him.
The politician said, “Since Buhari cannot help us, let Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara come to our aide in Benue.
“Also, we don’t need the police in Benue, let them give us Army to protect us”.
While declaring support for the anti-open grazing law recently promulgated by Governor Samuel Ortom in Benue State, Apezan also out-rightly rejected the cattle colony being proposed by the Federal Government.
The mass protest was planned to extend to the National Human Rights Commission, National Assembly, United Nations office and embassies of foreign missions in Nigeria, where protest letters are expected to be delivered by leaders.
In a related development, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Mohammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, has exonerated Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria of any culpability in the recent killings of farmers in some parts of the country by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
Speaking at the General Assembly of Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace, IDFP, yesterday, in Abuja, Sultan Abubakar III, said the organisation has no control over any Fulani man.
The religious leader, who rather attributed the massacre of innocent lives to the handiwork of some criminal elements, however, charged the Federal Government and the security apparatus to urgently fish out perpetrators of the heinous crime and prosecute them.
Sultan asked, “How is it possible for Fulani to attack settlements or communities to carry out killings of innocent people, destroy property and disappear without trace? Sultan Abubakar III, said the Miyetti Allah was formed over 32 years to cater for welfare and advance the growth of Fulani business.
He said that any Fulani man carrying arms and ammunition is not a member of the Miyetti Allah, because the group which is now under his leadership as Grand Patron was never a criminal group.
Sultan Abubakar, who berated those calling for proscription of the group, challenged them to as well call for proscription of other Socio-ethnic organisations like the Afenifere, Ohanaeze ndi Igbo and Arewa Consultative Forum, among others.
According to him, “Miyetti Allah doesn’t control any Fulani man. Calling for proscription of Miyetti Allah is equivalent to calling for the proscription of other ethnic organisations like Afenifere, ACF, Ohanaeze and others “It was formed 32 years ago and these crises were not there. I am the patron and we have never asked Fulani herdsman to kill anybody.
“Any Fulani man caught killing is a criminal and should be treated as such. What are the security agencies doing? If they have failed, they should accept that they have failed.
“What is going on is not an ethnic problem; it’s not a religious problem. It’s an economic problem.” On the way out, the Sultan who advocated for dialogue, said, “What we need is to sit down and dialogue.
As religious leaders, we have to be very careful with what we say, because it carries weight, our followers listen to us very seriously.
“We must believe in one another, trust and love ourselves because that is what our two major religions advocate. We must continue to speak with one voice. We should not be labelling everybody a criminal because his brother is a criminal.”
The royal father also added that, “People are say, label Miyetti Allah a terrorist group. No, we are not terrorists and can’t join terrorism.”
On the situation in Benue state, he recalled, “This thing didn’t start today, in the past eight years, I have been to Benue many times to discuss this issue. “We had met for hours and agreements reached, yet nothing has been implemented.
Why? The former governors of Benue are still alive and they know all these. “Even the present governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom had written to me to come again with my peace mission, but we had not had the opportunity before this round of crisis.
“We must come to the bottom of this issue, how come these Fulani men are carrying guns without the security men knowing.
“I keep on repeating it, things are not okay, but they are not as bad as they are made to look especially in the social media. Let’s go round and speak to one another, not just staying in our comfort zones”, he said.
In his address, the President, Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, Dr. Samson Ayokunle accused some religious leaders of being insincere while commenting on the issue of killing of innocent people in the country.
Ayokunle, who was represented by the Bishop of Yola, Bishop Stephen Manza, said, as religious leaders, we need to condemn evil in this country.
We seated here today as religious leaders, but how sincere in what we say? He said, “Christians at all levels believe in peace. This is time for us to speak with one voice. But my concern is whether we are sincere in what we are doing.
“We religious leaders, we crevice people a lot. We say one thing when we have another thing in mind. Our tribal and religious affiliations have overshadowed our Nigerianness.
“The problem is that we keep mute once a person is killed and a member of our faith is not the victim. “Another thing is that we identify with people of our faith even when the person is doing the wrong thing.
We all know that President Muhammadu Buhari is not handling the security situation in the country well but certain persons are not talking may be because he is a Muslim. “And when Jonathan was there, some Christian leaders kept quiet because he’s a Christian.”
On his part, Archbishop of Abuja Catholic Dioceses, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, however, assured Nigerians that the problem of insecurity threatening the soul of the nation was surmountable if Nigerians build trust among themselves.
According to him, “Nothing happening in this country now that is beyond us, it is within our hands. But just like the Bishop of Yola has said, we need sincerity. “We shouldn’t be praying for peace, when in the real sense, we are the ones causing crises everywhere.
Talking for peace will give peace if there is truth. So, we must learn to build trust, trusting one another. We must join hands to do what is right.”

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We’re Working To Improve Quality Of Life Of Rivers People -Fubara …As Taraba Gov Inaugurates 6.55km Okania-Ogbogoro-Mgbaraja Roads Project

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has reiterated the commitment of his administration to render quality service that will improve the quality of life of residents, and strengthen the platform to promote unity.
Governor Fubara gave the assurance at the Okania-Ogbogoro Road junction, venue of the inauguration of the 6.55km Okania-Ogbogoro-Mgbaraja (and Mgbuoba) Roads project in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, yesterday.
The road cuts across Okania community through Ogbogoro, and connects Port Harcourt Ring Road project under construction, and was inaugurated by the Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas.
Governor Fubara said that during the campaigns, he saw the roads in terrible condition, made a promise to fix them, and noted that that promise has been kept.
He emphasised that his administration will never be reckoned with abandoning of projects that it started, which is why he is particularly excited that the road has been fixed to ease the inconveniences suffered by the people.
The Governor said, “What we are doing here today is very simple: Promise made, promise fulfilled. I told you that whatever we are going to start, we are not going to leave it halfway. So, we have come here this afternoon to fulfill that promise.
“I am so excited, and I am so happy. I am leaving here with so much joy that we have done something that has so much impact, and importance in the lives of our people. So, I feel very fulfilled. Government is about the people. Government is knowing, understanding and seeing what you can do to make life easy for your people.
“We understand the situation of this road. Fortunately, I have a few friends who also live around here. So, there is nothing you will say that I don’t know. As a government, we will continue to do those things we know will make life easy for you.”
The Governor thanked members of the communities in the area for their support to his administration, and also for cooperating with the contractor to ensure completion of the project.
He assured the people that their request for the rehabilitation of the Community Secondary School and Health Centre, will be looked at and addressed immediately, saying, “Our government is a government that takes the interest of our people very seriously.
“There is no government without the people. It is only the people that keep the government going. So, what we will continue to do is to make sure that the problems and interest of our people are top on our list,” he assured.
Performing the inauguration, Taraba State Governor, Dr Agbu Kefas, said roads are not just physical infrastructure but represent a commitment to facilitate ease of transportation, boost local commercial activities and improve quality of lives for the people of Rivers State.
Dr Kefas noted that Governor Fubara has provided the people good roads, and like other good roads, it will serve as an artery of development, further connecting communities, enhancing access to essential services while unlocking economic potentials.
He said, “By completing this project, Your Excellency has, once again, demonstrated the transformative impact of visionary leadership. When I was coming in with the Governor on a ride, I saw the joy, the happiness of the voiceless people who were abandoned and neglected in this area, coming out to wave and welcome us.
“It wasn’t a hired crowd. Everybody, those who couldn’t make it to this place, in front of their homes, they were waving at us, and I was telling the Governor: this is all about good governance. He listened to the people, and solved their problems. So, it shows that he is doing the right thing, and I want to thank you, my brother, for what you are doing for the good people, especially the poor people even in difficult times.”
Governor Kefas further said: “As we celebrate this milestone, I am reminded of the importance of collaboration and shared vision among us as Governors. Together, we can inspire our people, improve their lives, and create lasting legacies in our respective states.”
Providing the project description, the State Commissioner for Works, Barrister Elloka Tasie-Amadi, recalled that when it was flagged-off in May, 2024, the project was for a 5km stretch but was extended in October, to include Mgbaraja axis, increasing the length to 6.55km, explaining that the 10.3 meter wide, and 5km of drains road, has now linked Apara Kingdom to Nkpor Kingdom.
In his address, Chairman of Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Amb Chijioke Ihunwo, described the road as a very significant route that was abandoned for years until Governor Fubara intervened and fixed it, promising that Obio/Akpor people will not take the gestures of the State Government under Governor Fubara for granted.
Speaking on behalf of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), the firm that handled the project, Eric Shen, said they are happy to be part of the infrastructure development strides of Governor Fubara, stating that though the rains posed significant challenge, they have delivered quality road network to serve the connectivity needs of the people.

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We’ll Implement Judicial Commission’s Report On Arson, Killings -Fubara …Says Such Violence Must Stop In Rivers

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Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured of implementing the recommendations of the report submitted to him by the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the Arson, Killings, and Wanton Destruction of Property at some local government council headquarters on or around Monday, October 7, 2024.
Governor Fubara gave the assurance when the seven-member commission, led by the Chairman, Justice Ibiwengi Roseline Minakiri, submitted four volumes of reports of their investigation and recommendations to him at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
The Governor declared that his administration will neither tolerate nor allow such level of violence in the State anymore because it is not profitable or productive.
He said, “We are not going to be part of any system that would encourage any destruction in this State. And for that reason, we had to inaugurate this commission, so that this commission should look into the remote and immediate causes of this problem.
“And I believe that the recommendations of this commission, with the help of God and the support of everyone, we will make sure that we implement the recommendations.”
Governor Fubara said: “We are going to take it to the next stage. The report will be presented to the Executive Council, and there, we will surely come out with the White Paper and with the White Paper. I can assure you, we are going to follow it to the end.
“Nobody is above the law, including me. So, provided what we are doing is within the confines of the law, we will do it with the help of every one.”
Governor Fubara recalled how, before 2014, a group of persons had ran wide recklessly in the State, burning down court buildings.
He noted that it is such persons, who had recently surfaced with their destructive tendencies, and have extended the violence to local government councils, killing people and destroying government property.
Governor Fubara wondered why somebody will spend so much money to build a structure intended to last as legacy of the administration but would eventually be part of its destruction in the name of politics.
Governor Fubara clarified that he has never been part of such destructive politics that continue to set the State backwards and frustrate progressive development strides.
Governor Fubara said: “I make bold to say it, I have never been and will never be a party to anything that will bring shame, disgrace, destruction to our dear State.
“It is our State. If it is well with us, it will be well with everybody. As a matter of fact, why should I encourage destruction, when I know that when you finish spoiling things, you still need money to rebuild them.
“I am an accountant, I know the importance of how we can manage money. Rather than spoil, you should use that money to do a new thing for the State.”
Governor Fubara vowed: “So, I am going to ensure that we put a stop to that level of violence or such unreasonable violence. I call it unreasonable violence because it doesn’t mean anything in politics.
“Politics is a business of interest. There is no permanent friend, no permanent enemy. Some persons who were not even in our support, today, they are here following us because their interest is the most important thing.
“Likewise tomorrow, if the interest changes, they will also go their different ways. So, why burn down the house?”
Governor Fubara thanked members of the commission for being bold, focused, and accomplishing their task with determination in the face of physical and legal threats.
In her presentation, Chairman of the seven-member Judicial Commission of Inquiry, Justice Ibiwengi Roseline Minakiri, said they had put their findings into four volumes, including the recommendations.
Justice Minakiri explained: “We have here four volumes of the report. We have the memoranda, which is the memoranda we got after we made our publications.
“We also have the exhibits that came with the memoranda. We have the proceedings and the records. At the end of the day, we came up with the main report.”
Justice Minakiri advised that the recommendations of the report should be studied and implemented so that people can be deterred from such callous acts and the sought-after peace secured for the State.

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We Are Eager To Showcase The Best Of Rivers State -Fubara …Declares Federation Of Public Service Games Open

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The Rivers State Government says it is committed to providing a memorable experience for all delegates participating in the Federation of Public Service Games(FEPSGA) hosted by the State Government.
Governor Siminalayi Fubara stated this during the opening Ceremony of the 43rd Edition, Public Service Games, titled ”Simplified Rivers 2024″, at Sharks Stadium, Port Harcourt, last Sunday.
Speaking through his Deputy, Prof. Ngozi Nma Odu, Governor Fubara said “Our hospitality is renowned and we are eager to showcase the best of Rivers State. From top-notch facilities to a secure environment, we have everything in place to ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience for all participants.”
Governor Fubara said to ensure the success of the games his Administration has put in place comprehensive plans and preparations with four venues approved for the events which include the Sharks Stadium, Alfred Diette -Spiff Civic Centre, Port Harcourt Club and the University of Port Harcourt.
The State Chief Executive urged participants to remember that the true spirit of FEPSGA goes beyond winning medals, stressing that it is about building bridges of friendship, fostering a sense of community and celebrating our diversity.
According to him, we envision a public service that is more productive, more efficient and more effective, a future where public servants are empowered to deliver exceptional results driven by a culture of excellence, innovation and teamwork.
The Governor reiterated that while a healthy mind and body are essential for high productivity, regular physical activity boosts our mood, increases energy levels and enhances our cognitive function. We are eager to showcase the best of Rivers State. From top-notch facilities to a secure environment.
In her address Head of the Civil Service of the Federation Mrs Didi Esther Walson-Jack, who spoke through Dr.(Mrs) Magdalene Ajani, Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Interior Commended Governor Fubara for hosting this year’s event, and for his dedication to promoting sports and fostering unity in the country.
She noted that the event which serves as a platform for furthering unity, camaraderie and sportsmanship amongst public servants, was a celebration of their shared commitment to excellence, resilience and service to the nation.
Also speaking the National President of the Federation of Public Service Games (FEPSGA), Comrade Amaebi Aloku, said Rivers State got the nod to host the annual event because the Federation was pleased with the vision of Governor Fubara in identifying with the needs of the Civil Servants in the State, in terms of their welfare and being one of the first State to implement the new minimum wage and even taking it above what was approved by the national.
Earlier the Head of Service Rivers State, Dr George Nwaeke had welcomed all participants to the State and expressed gratitude to the Governor for approving and making available the resources to host the games, noting that it was an opportunity to interact with all Civil Servants across the nation.

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