South East
NEMA Donates To Hausa Community At Onitsha
The Federal Government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has donated relief materials worth millions of naira to the over 3,000 members of the Hausa Community in Onitsha, Anambra state, currently taking refuge at the Onitsha military Cantonment central Mosque for fear of reprisal attack by the Igbos.
This follows the post-presidential election violence which erupted in some Northern parts of the country, claiming lives and properties worth billions of naira.
Addressing the traumatised persons at the Barracks, shortly before handing over the relief materials which include 300 bags of rice and beans, ( 150 each), 500 blankets, 1000 pieces of nylon mats, 1000 towels, 50 cartons of detergents, and mattresses to their leaders on behalf of their members, Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, expressed displeasure over the action of those behind the post presidential election violence which has sent hundreds of innocent citizens to their untimely grave.
While condemning the act in its entirety, the NEMA boss said the relief materials were part of Federal Government’s gesture towards alleviating their plight.
He advised them to see their stay in the Army barracks as temporal, as government was already doing everything within its powers to ensure peace in all the violence prone areas across the country.
Represented by the South -East zonal coordinator of the Agency, Dr. Bandele Abdulahi Onimode, the D-G expressed regret that some uninformed and unscrupulous persons in some Northern part of the country could take laws into their hands in the name of protest, calling on the perpetrators to lay down their arms and embrace peace in the interest of one Nigeria.
He assured them that the Federal Government is highly interested in the safety of their lives and property, saying that as far as they did not commit any crime, government would do every thing within its capacity to ensure that they return to their homes and places of aboard without a further delay.
Alhaji Sani, who also commended the Army authorities for its proactive response to the situation, charged members of the Hausa community to always live in peace in any community they find themselves .
“You should always see yourselves as part and parcel of the community you live”, he said and enjoined the Northern youths to always eschew violence because it does not do the nation any good.
Responding on behalf of the Hausa community, their leader, the Sarkin Hausawan Onitsha, and secretary Northern Traditional Council, South East- South South zone, Alhaji Iliyasu Yushau, thanked NEMA for the kind gesture, noting that government has rekindled their hopes with its action.
Alhaji Yushau, who also condemned the violent protest in the North, appealed to those behind the wicked act to desist from it and channel their grievances through appropriate legal means.
I blame my people up there in the North for the violence because the violence was uncalled for and illegal. We must learn how to stay as brothers and sisters, because that is how Allah wants it to be”, he declared.
“We thank the Federal Government for these relief materials. We want to also thank the Presidency for the prompt response and also thank the Army for their assistance to us, especially the Commanding Officer of this Cantonment”,
According to him, some of them had been living in Onitsha town since 1890 and no longer see themselves as stranger.
Alhaji Yushau, however, disclosed that no fewer than 3,200 members of the Hausa community are currently taking refuge in the Army barracks, assuring that the relief materials would be distributed amicably among all the members.
The Commanding Officer in charge of 14 Field Engineer Regiment of the Cantonment and head of the Disaster Response Unit, Lt. Col. Tonye Numbere, had assured the people of adequate security in the barracks.
The police in Ebonyi State say they have discovered the body of a yet to be identified middle-aged woman in a hotel room in Abakaliki, the state capital. The spokesperson of the police in the state, Loveth Odah, stated this yesterday.
She said the body has deep cuts on the chest and neck and has been deposited in a mortuary. According to the spokesman, it was discovered at Crown Garden Hotel located along the ever-busy Afikpo road in the capital city.
Mrs Odah, who said that the victim was found in the pool of her own blood, said the suspect had been identified as one Uchenna Awoke.
She said the hotel manager, Emmanuel Eze, the supervisor, and other workers had been taken to the police station for questioning and accused the hotel management of negligence.
“The manager of the hotel, the supervisor and other staff of the hotel were taken to the station for questioning and I must confess to you that the whole thing is negligence on the part of the hotel management. How can a guest be murdered in a hotel room and days after, the management is not aware of the incident.”
“We will investigate the matter properly and I assure you, the perpetrator of the act must be arrested and prosecuted. All we are asking is for the members of the public to avail the police of useful information that will lead to the arrest of the suspect.”
The Senate yesterday passed the South East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill 2018.
The proposed commission aims at enhancing the infrastructural development of the South East zone, which is grappling with huge ecological challenges.
It also seeks to act as a catalyst for the development of the commercial potential of the zone.
The proposed legislation requires the concurrence of the House of Representatives to become a bill of the National Assembly, and the President’s assent to become a law.
Senators Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) and Samuel Anyanwu (PDP-Imo) jointly sponsored the bill read in the Senate on June 22, 2016.
Its passage in the Red Chamber followed the presentation of the report of the Committee on Establishment and Public Service by its former Chairman, Senator Emmanuel Paulker (PDP-Bayelsa), on the floor of the Senate.
The bill, after Paulker’s presentation, was considered clause by clause by the committee of the whole, and amendments made by the lawmakers were read for the third time and eventually passed.
In his remarks, presiding Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, commended his colleagues for a job well done.
In his words, “Every morning we pray that God should give us the grace to do only those things that will promote the peace and unity of this country.
“I believe that we have shown today that we are committed to the unity of this country, and it is this unity that will give us faith in this country.
“This faith will in turn help us to pursue peace and progress,” he said.
Briefing newsmen after plenary, members the South East caucus of the Senate, led by Sen. Enhinnaya Abaribe (PDP-Abia), thanked their colleagues and members of the committee for their efforts.
Abaribe, who spoke on behalf of the caucus, urged the President to sign the bill into law “as soon as we tidy it up and bring to him, in the interest of the unity and progress of Nigeria”.
“This will put to rest the long-drawn agitation in the South East, and the difficulties in the rehabilitation and reconciliation efforts that started at the end of the civil war.
“All things we see always will end up at the negotiating table, which is what we have done,” he said.
The lawmaker said he hoped the House of Representatives would give concurrence to the bill as it went in the Senate.
When established, the South East Development Commission would be the third zonal interventionist body in the country.
Bishop David Oyedepo, the Founder and Presideng Bishop, Living Faith Church Worldwide, on Saturday predicted that nothing would disturb the peace of Nigeria and its story would change for the better in the year 2019.
Oyedepo made the declaration at the just concluded annual prophetic gathering of the Winners’ family, christened the “Dominion”, in a satellite telecast of the church.
In the telecast monitored in Abuja, the cleric also declared that 2019 would be a year of “I have Dominion”.
“Nothing will tamper with the peace of Nigeria; the story will change for the better in the name of Jesus.
“Nigeria shall not see bloodshed, the Prince of Peace will continue to dominate in Nigeria, in Africa and Nigeria is declared blessed.
“Anywhere you step, accident is forbidden; death will not come near you and our nation.
“Anything that is of grace in my life, I freely release upon you today.
“God has opened the year 2019 to us, celebrate Him because its our year of “I have Dominion,” he said.
The Bishop added that the year 2019 would be a year of humbling testimonies for Nigeria and pace-setting testimonies.
He further declared that 2019 would be a colourful year for the nation.
According to the cleric, as long as Jesus has the final say on the issues of Nigeria, it will experience greatness.
Oyedepo said that there would be no more cause of alarm in any area of the nation and its citizens.
He advised Christians in Nigeria to delight themselves in the spirit of servant-hood, adding that the spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood.
“The Spirit of Christ is the spirit of servant-hood. As you keep rising on the ladder of leadership, you must retain our spirit of servant-hood, constantly working to add value to others and be kingdom minded,” he said.
According to him, dedication is at the root of dominion, saying: “Sow yourself as a seed by being totally dedicated to God and His Kingdom’’.
He told his congregation that sacrificial giving guarantees the meeting of all their needs.
“When you engage in taking care of the well-being of others, God is also committed to your well-being,” he explained. The cleric admonished Christians would engage in meeting the needs of the needy, every barrier on their path of destiny would be crushed.
“Nobody tampers with your life, your career, your family and goes away with it because you are promoted to God’s kingdom.
“God will stand for your defence in the day of trouble. Every sacrificial giver has a defence around him in the day of trouble always have that in mind,” he said.
He reminded his congregation that the Church is not a building; the Church is a people and the Redeemed of the Lord.