Headlines
Thank You for Your Concern, We Don’t Need Your Vigilante – South East Group Tells Miyetti Allah
The Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders has condemned the statement by the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association that it will establish Fulani vigilante in the South-East.
The group described the offer as an insult and an abomination in Igbo land.
In a statement in Umuahia signed by its President-General, Chief Goodluck Ibem, the group stated, “Who told Miyetti Allah that the South-East is looking for vigilante that will protect it from bandits and hoodlums?
“For the past 12 years, Boko Haram and bandits have been terrorising the northern states and Miyetti Allah did not deem it fit to establish a vigilante group to protect their northern region and fight Boko Haram insurgents and killer bandits.
“They could not chase away bandits on the Kaduna-Abuja highway. They should have formed a vigilante group to stop killings in Zamfara, Adamawa and Borno states.
“The only place they are concerned about to establish a vigilante group is in the South- East because they are the good Samaritans. We say thank you for your concern; we don’t need your vigilante. Take it to the North and protect your states.
“This unguided statement by Miyetti Allah is provocative and insulting to the Igbo nation. The North has more land mass than the South-East, South-West and South-South combined together. Why are they so interested in this small portion of the South-East? The answer is simple; because they are troublemakers and greedy.
“We warn Miyetti Allah to, with immediate effect, withdraw this abominable statement and apologise to the people of the South-East.
“We, as a matter of urgency, demand the establishment of the Bakassi Vigilante Boys in the 19 states in the north to protect Igbo and their businesses.
“COSEYL also warned the South-East governors and traditional rulers in the zone never to sell or give out any portion of land, no matter how small, to Miyetti Allah or any other herders’ association in the geopolitical zone. If they dare it, they will face the wrath of the South-East people.”
Miyetti Allah’s secret agenda, the group said, “is to Fulanise, Islamise and declare jihad in the South-East zone.”
The group called on the state Houses of Assembly in the South-East states to promulgate laws to establish the Bakassi Vigilante Boys “to protect our land from intruders and killer herdsmen.”
The Punch
Headlines
Abiola Cannot Be Recognised As Former President; He Was Never Sworn-in – Gen Ishola Williams
By Eric Elezuo
One of the prime actors of the June 12, 1993 incidents, General Ishola Williams, has said that much as Chief MKO Abiola wrong was created having won the election, and denied victory, he cannot be recognized as a former President of Nigeria.
Gen Williams made his revelation while speaking as a guest on Channels television socio-political programme, Inside Source.
He maintained that only those who were sworn in that recognised as former presidents, and Abiola was never sworn in.
“Abiola cannot be recognised as former president because he was never sworn in.
The General, who said that he resigned from the army as a result of the wholesome reception given to General Sani Abacha, when he overthrew Chief Ernest Shonekan-led Interim National Government, contrary to expectation, also picked flaws in the narratives given by former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, in his recently launched book, A Journey In Service.
Williams rose in the army to become the Commandant of Army Signals, Commander of Training and Doctrine (TRADOC) and Chief of Defence Training and Planning, from where he resigned.
Headlines
Breaking: Supreme Court Recognises Martin Amaewhule As Rivers Assembly Speaker, Orders CBN to Stop Releasing Funds to State
By Eric Elezuo
The Supreme Court of Nigeria has in its ruling on Friday recognised Hon Martins Amaewhule as the authentic speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, mandating him to urgently resume sitting with elected members of the assembly.
The apex court also ordered the Central Bank of Nigeria to stop releasing to the Rivers State government until a proper assembly is constituted.
Details soon…
Tension escalated at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday as impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa made a dramatic return to reclaim his position.
Accompanied by heavily armed men, Obasa stormed the Assembly complex in a bold move that has thrown the State’s legislature into turmoil.
In a stunning turn of events, security details assigned to the substantive Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda, were abruptly withdrawn on Thursday morning, clearing the path for Obasa’s controversial comeback.
Sources revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP) ordered the withdrawal of all security operatives attached to Meranda, leaving her exposed in the midst of an intensifying power struggle.
The Speaker’s Special Adviser on Information, Mr. Victor Ganzallo, expressed concern over the security vacuum created by the withdrawal of personnel.
“In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn.
This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” Ganzallo stated.
He further called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the State’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a complete breakdown of law and order within the Assembly.
“The withdrawal of security personnel has left the Assembly naked and vulnerable at a critical time. Urgent action is needed to restore order,” he pleaded.
With the speakership battle taking a dramatic new turn, political watchers are keenly observing how the crisis will unfold in the coming days.
