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Herdsmen Killings: APC colluding to unleash mayhem on the people
Herdsmen Killings: APC colluding to unleash mayhem on the people
The Benue state government has alleged that the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state is colluding with armed herdsmen to unleash mayhem on the people.
The allegation came on the heels of Tuesday’s media outing by the state leadership of the APC which alleged among others that Governor Samuel Ortom was colluding with the Benue State Livestock Guards and the Benue State Community Volunteer Guards to rustle cows of herders leading to reprisal attacks on Benue communities by the herders.
The APC Chairman, Austin Agada, who was flanked by the leaders and stakeholders of the party had alleged among others that “with the 2023 general elections around the corner, the Community Volunteer Guards have systematically embarked on cow rustling in Gwer-west, Makurdi and Guma Local Government Areas, LGAs, under the instruction of Governor Ortom with the attendant consequences of spontaneous Fulani militia killing of one person in Mbapa ward of Gwer-west LGA, eight persons in Makurdi on January 19, 2023, and eight persons in Guma LGA on January 20, 2023, all within the Ihyarev dominated communities.
“The prevailing atmosphere of politically induced insecurity in most parts of Benue State calls for the urgent concern of all Benue patriots. Available information indicates that on Wednesday 18″ January 2023 over 600 herds of cattle were rustled in the Sengev ward of Gwer-west LGA and kept at the Local Government Guest House at Naka, the objective was to trigger reprisal attacks against Gwer-West people by the herders. We roundly condemn this development and urge Governor Ortom to desist from spilling more blood.”
But reacting to the allegation Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Terver Akase noted that “by their outing, the APC in Benue State has left no one in doubt that they are working closely with those who invade communities of the state and attack innocent people.
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This is not the first time that leaders of the party have come out to take sides with killer herders. The APC in Benue State has often accused Benue people of attacking and killing themselves. Not too long ago, the sacked governorship candidate of the party re-echoed the accusation which the party’s leader first made four years ago absolving herdsmen of any responsibility in the series of attacks on Benue people.”
He alleged that the leader of the party in the state, Senator George Akume was behind the accusation against Governor Ortom saying “it was a tactical way of diverting attention from the removal of his puppet governorship candidate by the Court of Appeal.
“As far as the APC in Benue State is concerned, the lives of cows are more valuable than human lives. This is why in the said press statement, their emphasis was on cattle rustling as they frantically tried to justify why the Benue State Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law should be reviewed to grant easy passage and access to Fulani herders with their animals to lands across the state. The APC’s line of reasoning resonates with the thinking of Fulani pastoralists such as Miyetti Allah who insist that until the law is repealed, they will not stop sponsoring attacks on the state.
“The APC in Benue State has again proven that it has no value for human lives, and as long as they get power, Benue can go up in flames. A political party that turns to accuse the people of the state it hopes to govern lacks humanity and the conscience to lead.
“APC has never condemned the genocide Fulani herders have visited Benue State in nearly a decade. Leaders of the party are often quick to jump to the defence of the killer herders whenever people are attacked in parts of the state with the armed herders operating like a militia wing of the party.
“The opposition party has never shown empathy towards victims of the humanitarian crisis in the state. There is no evidence that they have taken relief materials to any of the IDP camps even once in the last five years. The only time a delegation of the party visited the camp located in Daudu was before the 2019 elections with the sole purpose of campaigning for votes.
“The timing of the APC press conference coming barely 24 hours after the Appeal Court judgment which nullified their phoney governorship primary election was calculated to divert attention from the devastating situation that the party does not have a gubernatorial candidate at the moment. But we expected the APC to direct their frustration to the appropriate quarters, not on Governor Ortom. The Governor did not advise them to conduct what their appeal panel described as a yahoo primary election and he was neither a member of the panel of justices that nullified the fraud called nomination.
“Though we cannot stop the APC in Benue from further conspiracy with enemies of the state, we must reiterate that their plans will always fail.
The Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law and the Livestock Guards which the APC and their herder allies desperately want to see scrapped have come to stay. Anyone who wants to rear cattle in Benue State must do so within the confines of ranches and be prepared to face the long arm of the law in the event of any breaches.
“We reassure the people of the state that Governor Samuel Ortom remains committed to the security of his people and no amount of blackmail or smear campaign from the opposition can make him compromise.”
Herdsmen Killings: APC colluding to unleash mayhem on the people
Peter Obi Dismisses Claims of Accepting 2027 Vice Presidential Role
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has refuted claims that he agreed to become a vice-presidential candidate in the 2027 elections. The former Anambra State Governor addressed the issue via a series of posts on his official X account on Saturday, accusing certain groups of misinterpreting his recent interview.
Obi emphasized that his remarks during the News Central TV interview had been deliberately distorted by propagandists, and he reiterated his unwavering commitment to the Labour Party and Nigeria’s progress.
https://www.facebook.com/Ochuwa24news/videos/820328146751630
Clarifying his stance, Obi stated, “I am not focused on 2027 when Nigerians are grappling with hunger, poverty, insecurity, and other urgent challenges.” He noted that he is open to partnerships, but only with individuals whose intentions align with advancing the country, not capturing state power.
Obi further stressed that his priority is to address pressing national issues, including bringing millions of out-of-school children back into classrooms and combating poverty. He categorically denied any agreement to serve as a vice president, saying, “For the avoidance of doubt, I never stated at any time that I would be vice president to anyone.”
Despite the rumors, Obi reaffirmed his dedication to Nigeria’s development, insisting that true progress can be achieved without necessarily holding political office.
Tjay Emerges as Week 7 Head of House in BBNaija, Gains Immunity
Tjay has been crowned the Head of House (HoH) for week seven in the Big Brother Naija (BBNaija) ‘No Loose Guard’ season, becoming the second solo HoH of the competition.
The announcement followed the unpairing of housemates, marking the start of individual gameplay after weeks of competing in duos.
In the week’s challenge, housemates navigated through a maze of laser beams in the arena before transferring mini cubes from one bottle to another.
Tjay, formerly part of Team Beta with his close friend Ben, completed the task in record time, securing his position as the new HoH.
With this win, Tjay gains immunity from eviction for the week, ensuring his safety in the game as the competition heats up.
This victory comes after Onyeka became the first solo HoH in the previous week, following a string of duo HoHs, including Mbadiwe Twins and Team Ndi Nne.
As the show progresses, housemates are vying for the ultimate grand prize of N100 million, with the stakes growing higher each week.
NOA launches birth registration campaign in Gombe, urges community participation
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with the National Population Commission (NPC), has begun birth registration sensitisation in Gombe State with a call on residents to embrace the exercise.
The campaign is being supported by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Speaking at the event in Gombe on Thursday, Mrs Adaline Patari, the state director, NOA, Gombe State office, said the move was to protect the future of children in the state.
Patari said the exercise was a nationwide birth registration social mobilisation drive, aimed at ensuring that every child in Nigeria had access to education, healthcare, and other essential services.
According to her, the drive is focused on registering all children aged 0-5 years and providing them with a National ldentification Number (NIN) free of charge.
She said that the birth registration drive would run from August to November 2024.
“Birth registration is a fundamental right of every child, and this initiative seeks to highlight its importance to the child, the family, the community, and the nation at large.
“Birth registration is the first legal acknowledgement of a child’s existence and is essential for safeguarding their rights and privileges for now and in the future.
“It is the key to unlocking access to basic services such as education and healthcare, which are crucial for a child’s development and future.
“Accurate birth registration is vital for national planning and development, as it provides the government with essential data to plan.
“By registering a child’s birth, families ensure that their children are recognised by the state, which is the first step in protecting them from abuse, exploitation, and statelessness,” he said.
The state director urged parents and guardians to visit the nearest NPC registration centres to register their children.
On his part, the State Director of NPC in Gombe State, Mr. Jude Maigari, said success in birth registration remained a collective efforts of all stakeholders, hence called for all shareholders’ support in this regard.
Maigari said the process was simple and free, requiring only supporting documents such as an immunisation card or an existing birth certificate of a parent or guardian.
He said during registration, every child aged 0-5 years would receive a NIN upon face capturing and birth registration.
He appealed to all traditional, religious and community leaders to drive the exercise in their communities, noting that the civic exercise would impact positively on the wellbeing of their people going forward.
On his part, Alhaji Usman Shettima, district head of Nasarawo and overseeing district head of Gombe pledged to support the drive for the benefits of the people.
Shettima appealed to leaders at the grassroots to ensure that their communities participate in the process.
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