Front Pix
Innocent Of Death …Unraveling Killing Of Aluu Four
Prof Ajienka And Abubakar
Gory sight, is an understatement. Barbaric, an attempt to
justify inadvertently, a mis-step into the forbidden inheritance of stale
years, when, might was right. And to describe as chilling, the butchering of four young men in search of
tertiary education at the University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State,
simply, a foiled attempt at boring poetry. So what better words?
Who feels it knows it best. In this case, the dead four, who
were first, dehumanised, later maimed and then slaughtered. Not done, the
killers then played God. Judged their victims, found them guilty and sentenced
them to hell by roasting, one fueled by used tyres and other combustibles. And
the under-graduates, all Nigerians, were roasted to death, at peace time and
therefore, cannot be depended upon to choose the right adjectives to describe
the gory pains of their last hours. And their voices also died.
Whatever is now coughed in condemnation therefore, is merely
the product of humanity’s awe, disbelief, shock and indeed empathy. How, could
fellow humans, in the 21st century, be so inhuman to their kind, and cause such
shameful drama to be posted on the world wide web, and with such impunity?
Why such killing? Who authorised such barbarism in a state,
where the administration has repeatedly preached against violence and cult
related breach of the peace?
Where were they when less heinous threats to peace cost
settlers of the Abonnema Wharf, what once served as their homes? Why should a
community allow a few to assume the right to usurp the powers of the security
structures and courts in the land and impose death sentence on others? Which
reasonable village-head would authorise the killing of strangers, particularly
students living in his community, at peace time?
What indeed was the crime of the Aluu four? Whatever it was,
by their killing, such alleged sins have been wiped clean, for, such is the
innocence of death. And nothing can justify such crass demonstration of moral
depravity grounded in cannibalistic grand standing.
As would be expected, there has been a benumbing outpouring
of emotions, in condemnations and calls for justice, the kind of justice,
denied the dead.
Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi was visibly
grieved and shocked at the manner of the killing and had since ordered
full-scale investigation. Some arrests have also been made and on the last
count, some, even set to be charged. So what manner of justice is society
haggling for? One that brings back the dead to life? One that would ensure the
completion of the years in search of higher education? One that fulfils the
hopes and dreams of their parents, themselves parents of the future, as would
any good child in adulthood? What hope is now left for the parents for replacement?
Will this wound ever heal? When? How?
Perhaps, the more annoying aspect of the jungle justice of
Aluu, is the claim that the dead four allegedly stole laptops and cell phones.
Assuming, but not conceding that its true, does such crime rise to justify
capital sentence of the barbaric kind meted to the dead? He who goes by the
sword dies by it, so the sages often say, so is the killing of the Aluu four,
over allegations of theft a sound judgement? What of the killers, if found?
Nothing can justify such barbarism in a clime of laws. The
right thing was for the Aluu village-head to insist on handing over the four to
the law enforcement authorities, and if over-powered by the mob, invite the
Police to save himself the bloody end society today condemns. Did the
village-head do that?
Why didn’t he, if he didn’t? Where does that inaction place
him? But why such inhumanity to fellow humans at this time? No answer can
make-good the early hell the youngsters were sentenced to. This is perhaps why
nearly all are united in condemnation, of the senseless killing.
In a joint statement, last Friday, chairman of Ikwerre Local
Government Area, Hon Welendu Chijemezu-Amadi and the House of Assembly member
representing Ikwerre constituency, Hon Azubike Wanjoku sympathised with
families of the victims, the university of Port Harcourt community and the
entire people of Rivers State over the gruesome killing of the four students of
the University of Port Harcourt in Aluu community.
‘Our attention has been drawn to publications in various
media that the students were killed by a vigilante group in Aluu community’,
the statement said and went on to ‘state categorically that there is no
vigilante group in Aluu community known to or approved by Ikwerre Local
Government Area and any allusion to the killing being perpetrated by a
vigilante group is unfounded”.
Both Ikwerre political leaders, used the platform to “appeal
to the general public, particularly students of the University of Port Harcourt
to remain calm and be law abiding as security agencies are working round the
clock to bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to book”.
In an apparent attempt to restore hope, the duo, condemned
in strong terms, the act of violence as barbaric and vexatious.
“It is an utter mockery of democratic civilisation. This act
sets our dear and peace-loving state back to the bloody era of the stone age
when life was nasty, short and brutish,” the statement said, adding “this is an
act worth condemning not only in the privacy of our houses, but also in the
open”.
In like manner, the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP), described the recent killing of the four undergraduates at Aluu in
Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state by yet-to-be-identified persons, as
‘most barbaric, chilling and unexplainable’.
In a statement, chairman of the party, Chief Godspower Ake
lamented the wild display of hatred shown by those who killed the young men and
in a bizarre manner they did.
“That act is an anti-thesis to the efforts at value re-orientation
being championed by the administration in the state”, the PDP stated.
Many others, including the Senate, the Presidency and indeed
Okrika chiefs have also condemned the act with calls on the security agencies
to do a thorough job which alone can assuage tempers and restore hope for a peaceful future.
However, no act of violence in reprisal can be justified as
two wrongs do not and can never make a right. All, who are aggrieved, and by
the nature of condemnations, most of humanity, though in varied degrees, need
to exercise caution and avoid inflammatory statements capable of aggravating an
already tense situation.
The security agencies must be allowed to do a thorough job in spite of skepticism being expressed in
some quarters and leave the rest to the courts. All must understand that the
unfortunate incident is a dent on the security record of the state, whose
governor has done everything to restore the state from the insecurity he
inherited and had done a good job of it.
The relative peace enjoyed, the restoration of nightlife, an
improved investment climate and above all, burstling Garden City are only few
of the many rewards of the Governor’s doggedness in his crusade to fight
insecurity whereever it rears its head. The Aluu madness, isolated as it is, is
only a temporary distraction which should not be allowed to escalate beyond the
alleged burning of three houses in Aluu by protesting students.
The killings are condemnable and any reprisal, no less so.
Families and communities that lost loved
ones should leave their pains to their Maker, who alone gives and takes.
They must agree that humanity lacks the power to restore life and should submit
to the court of the all-knowing God.
At times like this, there is the tendency among fifth
columnists to play the ethnic card and attempt to engineer inter-communal
strife and disturbances. This is not only unnecessary but wrong because even
the Ikwerre Local Government Area, under whose authority Aluu, sits, has
frontally condemned the acts of violence as did Okrika chiefs, whose two sons
were victims.
Already, some are imputing such animosities which should be dismissed as baseless. What
happened in Aluu cannot be an Ikwerre aggression against Okrika sons, but
simply a regrettable mob action which is as ill-advised as it is condemnable.
In fact, all affected communities should see it as a joint assault on the
relative peace and good-neighbourliness thus far enjoyed in recent times.
More importantly, the state government has shown true
commitment to efforts geared towards finding the killers by ordering the
immediate arrest of the village-head and others suspected to know anything
about the incident. Not only that, government has repeatedly urged the security
agencies to not only do a thorough investigation but also a timely one, as
justice delayed often amounts to justice denied.
Now therefore, is the time for all well-meaning Nigerians,
especially, indigenes of the state to remain united against that singular act
that attempted to sentence the state to the stone ages, when, might was right
and when human life had no value any more than those of rodents. To ensure
that, anyone with useful information that could help Police investigation
should volunteer same for the peaceful co-existence of all peoples of the
state.
My Agony is that some mischief makers have started seeking
undeserved relevance through inciting statements and threats intended to paint
an inter-communal colouration of an otherwise unfortunate, unplanned and
spur-of-the-moment madness by an ill-advised few.
Methinks all affected community leaders must close ranks,
open potent channels of communication and express sincere empathy with families
of the victims, and that way, render irrelevant those violent jobbers who may
seek from the incident their own shameless relevance.
Soye Wilson Jamabo
Front Pix
DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.