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Kogi Guber: Abuja political merchants heightening tension, will be disgraced – Uja’Ache Mandate
The Leadership of Uja’Ache Citizen’s Mandate Group, has promised a reproach for the faceless political merchants infiltrating Kogi political ecosystem ahead of Nov. 11, 2023 Governorship election.
The President of the Uja’Ache Citizen’s Mandate Group in Kogi State, Comrade Isah Ahmed Idris made the promise in a press briefing shortly after an emergency meeting of the group at the weekend in Idah, Kogi State.
The meeting held to consider the cladestine move and activities of a faceless group calling themselves, ‘Kogi East Patriotic Association’ based in Abuja, also brainstormed on other important programs capable of facilitating peaceful and successful governorship election.
The Uja’Ache Group leader said, it would have been wiser, ignoring the ranting of a malicious group of faceless, jobless and political merchants, seekingi cheap popularity, by glorifying thuggery and violence being perpetrated by the state, their paymaster against the electorate, civil servants and people of Kogi State in a count down to Governorship Election in Kogi State.
While responding to a senseless attack on the personality of the SDP Governorship Candidateo, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka (Muri) in an empty briefing by the faceless group tittled ‘Stop undermining chances of serious Igala contender, Kogi East Stakeholders tell SDP candidate’, Alh. Isah Ahmed Idris warned the group to stop dragging the name of a proud Igala son and Igala race into a ridiculous mud.
The spokesperson of a ridiculous Abuja based group, Abdulkadir Ojonugwa who hails from Olamaboro said’ “Each time Ajaka goes out, it is always blood, crying and tears for Kogites. Is he the only Governorship Candidate on Kogi State? Certainly, not.”
“We have never had a governorship candidate as unruly and crude as SDP candidate, Murtala Yakubu in the history of Kogi State politics”.
“The handlers are also as clueless and have failed to realise that, while election will go on smoothly in other parts of the state and others would record more wins, their game plan would only decimate the votes in Kogi East at the detriment of serious contenders and we say, no to this. Enough is Enough”.
“Our people are getting fed up, will all those violence shenanigans and if the police and the state government refused to do the needful, the people of Kogi East will have no choice than to effect a citizen’s arrest of Ajaka and hand him over to the relevant authorities before he kills all of us for his inordinate ambition”.
On the detained Assistant Supretendent of Police (ASP) Officer who escorted the leader of state government killer squad, Friday Sani Makama, an outlawed Kogi State DG for Taskforce on Control and Recovery of Illegal Fire Arms in the state who was caught and now in detention, Ojonugwa accused SDP candidate Muri of using his thuggs to harrass the police officer, saying,”we could hear clearly as the thugs were shouting to be allowed to kill a police officer of the Federal Republic of Nigeria inside a police station and turning around to blame all that on the state government”.
“As bona – fide citizens of Kogi State from Kogi East, it is our desire to see a credible election in
our dear state”.
“Even among us in Igala land, we know who we can trust. But we are not here to campaign for anybody but to warn those whose stock in trade is orchestrating violence and playing the victim that they can’t put all of us at risk because of their unpopular ambition”.
Idris noted that, the unfortunate gathering of these persons calling themselves, Patriot Group of Kogi East Stakeholders, are a bunch of unemplyed youth and rag – tag politicians that besieged Abuja as job seekers, after some hopeless movement, are now tools in the hands of dangerous politicians in the class of State Governor, Yahaya Bello, who is seeking vulnerable Igala – Bassa misguided sons and daughters to use as cannon fodders on his despiration to manipulate November 11, governorship election in favour of his proxious political toddler, Ahmed Ododo to cover his stinking government.
He insisted that, as long as these misguided individuals claiming Kogi East as their abode, passionately selling their conscience for a handful of spoils out of stollen funds from Kogi State treasury, our collective patrimony, the sooner their distress and frustration will destroy them.
Uja’Ache leader said, “For the purpose of record, Igala – Basa race and its reverred Kingdom, has only one consequential stakeholders group, refer to as, ‘Kogi East Elders Committe (KEEC)’ under the leadership of the former Minister of State for Health and currently, Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Chief (Arch.) Gabriel Yakubu Aduku, to whom every Igala – Bassa race, owes their allegiance.
Other critical Sociocultural Organisations including, Igala Community Developments Association, Ukomu Igala group, Ojuju Agbadufu Igala, Ebulejonu daughters, and Uja’Ache Citizen’s Mandate Group, all owes allegiance to Chief (Arch.) Gabriel Aduku, who knows and partner with the aforementioned Organisations, hence, any other faceless bunch of unemplyed and idle commercial jobbers disguising as representative of Igala – Bassa race, is an abberation and they constitutes nuisance to the treasured Igala – Bassa race”.
“Also, while more than eighty (80) percent of Igala – Bassa sons with or without political inclination and awareness, identifies, with Uja’Ache Citizen’s Mandate Group, the precious heritage of Dr. Steven Makoji Achema and Prince Abubakar Audu, the two Igala political icons of blessed memory “.
“It is important to say, the Uja’Ache Citizen’s Mandate Group and all the aforementioned Igala – Bassa Organisations have harmoniously annoited the Social Democratic party (SDP) Candidate, Alh. Murtala Yakubu Ajaka (Muri), as the Igala – Bassa concensus candidate from among the nine (9) candidates from the zone on basis of Credibility, Capability, Community Development and Acceptability template, for the Nov. 11, 2023 governorship election”.
“The stand of the zone is informed by the need to rescue Kogi State from chronic mismanagement of state resources; high profile scandal from state treasury; recruitment of youth of Kogi state and especially, Igala – Bassa youth into thuggery; deliberate creation of sadistic livelihood and poverty in the state; mutilation of LGA administration, physical and human infrastructures and creating none of signifant value since 2015”.
“On ethnic politics as entrenched by Yahaya Bello administration, Igala – Bassa are never part of it, reasons they had earlier ruled the state on the basis of Equity, with higher regards to Ebira and especially, Okun people, as against what the Diaspora based adulterated Igala chaffs would want the world to belief.
Igala – Bassa youth valued Okun’s massive support for Prince Abubakar Audu/James Faleke Governorship 2015 before his demise and hence, waited long for Hon. James Faleke to energise Okun’s turn to lead the state in 2023 but he backed out unapologetically and left the political space vacant, which Governor Yahaya Bello stylishly and violently hijacked as an inheritance.
This obviously capitulated Igala sons, including Muri into the race, with subsequent endorsement of Muri by Igala – Bassa people to proof him wrong”.
The UjaAche leader, reminded the Abuja diabolical political merchants of the long history of heinous violence being perpetrated by Kogi government against the electorate and opposition candidates in Kogi State since 2015, the lists of which includes, Dino Melaye’s brutalisation and his battle against withdrawal from Senate in 2018; burning down of Bar Natasha’s SDP office in 2019, and a road blockade at Natasha from electoral activities in Adavi in 2023″.
“Other visible assasination attempts on SDP Candidate, Alh. Murtala Yakubu Ajaka was at Banda, Lokoja in march 2023; attack on Ajaka’s supporters and killing of Kabir Bala Okwo in Ejule 2023; Bloody attacks on Ajaka supporters in Ajiolo – Dekina; assasination attempt on Pastor Sunday Atabo, SDP State Zonal chairman in Agojeju, Ofu LGA ; and last ten days’s yet, failed assasination attempt on SDP Candidate, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka at KotonKarfi campaign ground and again at Okpachala, Igala -Mela, the failed operations respectively led by Bello’s commissioner, Bashir Gegu and Friday Sani Makama, the head of Government Killer Squads and outlaw state DG on regulation and recovery of Fire Arms.This latest failed assasination operation however resulted in the arrests of an ASP Police officer, all on illegal assignment with an escapee Friday Makama”.
Uja’Ache leader reiterated that the diabolic manner, these faceless political merchants goes about castigating the SDP Governorship Candidate, Alh. Murtala Yakubu Ajaka (Muri), symbolises a people of inordinate greed with mental gap, hollow conscience, far divorced from their root, only posing empty armed chair critics that are22 better refered to as ‘Diaspora based adulterated Igala chaffs”.
He therefore admonise those Igala political chaffs and co – travellers to desists from acting as alarmists, look carefully at the rumps of the chicken, as the storm is blowing or be ready to contend with the anger and curses of the youth, elders and ancestors of the Igala – Bassa people of Kogi State.
By Sunday James
The gruesome killing of 16 innocent northern hunters in Uromi, Edo State, over false accusations of kidnapping is yet another damning indictment of the failure of law and order in Nigeria.
Time and again, innocent lives have been lost to the mindless brutality of mob justice, a savage and inexcusable act that has become far too common across the country.
This is not an isolated incident. Nigeria has witnessed several tragic cases of jungle justice where angry mobs, fueled by misinformation and misplaced aggression, have taken the law into their own hands.
The Aluu Four incident in 2012, where four young university students in Rivers State were falsely accused of robbery, beaten, and burned to death in a horrific public spectacle, remains one of the most chilling examples.
In 2022, Deborah Samuel, a young student in Sokoto State, was lynched by fellow students over alleged blasphemy, an incident that sparked outrage but yielded little justice. In Lagos, several suspected petty thieves were set ablaze by mobs in broad daylight without any fair trial.
Across the country, from Anambra to Kano, Port Harcourt to Abuja, numerous cases of public executions by mobs continue to surface, often with little to no legal consequences for perpetrators.
The rise of mob justice is fueled by a cocktail of systemic failures that have left Nigerians disillusioned with formal justice mechanisms.
The breakdown of law and order, where the Nigerian police fail to deliver swift and transparent justice, has led to public distrust, encouraging citizens to take matters into their own hands. Rising insecurity, including the surge in kidnappings, banditry, and violent crimes, has left many communities in perpetual fear, triggering knee-jerk reactions to perceived threats. Ethnic and religious tensions have also played a major role, with deep-seated biases making certain groups more vulnerable to targeted attacks.
The proliferation of unregulated local vigilante groups and security outfits has further emboldened extrajudicial actions against innocent civilians. Additionally, the slow pace of criminal trials and the failure to punish perpetrators of jungle justice have normalized impunity.The Edo killings, like many before them, must not be swept under the rug.
The government must ensure immediate arrest, prosecution, and conviction of all those involved in this heinous act. Strengthening law enforcement agencies to curb vigilante excesses and restore public trust is paramount.
There must be massive public enlightenment campaigns to educate citizens on legal redress rather than mob action. Strict penalties must be enforced against communities and groups involved in jungle justice to deter future occurrences.The Nigerian government must wake up to its responsibility of protecting lives and ensuring justice for all.
If mob justice continues unchecked, no one is truly safe. This latest atrocity in Edo should be the final warning: justice delayed is justice denied. The killers must be held accountable, and a nationwide crackdown on jungle justice must begin immediately. Enough is enough. The rule of law must prevail.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has congratulated the Muslim Ummah across the country on the occasion of Eid-el-Fitr.
The celebration marks the successful completion of the holy month of Ramadan.
In a message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Edwin Olofu, Ganduje rejoiced with Muslims for the spiritual renewal and discipline attained during the sacred month of fasting, prayer and devotion to Almighty Allah.
He urged the faithful to uphold the virtues of piety, selflessness, and compassion that Ramadan represents while also extending love and kindness to one another, especially to the less privileged in society.
The APC National Chairman further called on Muslims and all citizens to remain steadfast in promoting unity, peace, and national progress in the country.
He emphasized that the lessons of Ramadan—patience, sacrifice, and perseverance—are essential in fostering harmony and strengthening the nation’s democratic institutions.
The two-term Kano State Governor also urged the Muslim Ummah and Nigerians to pray for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to succeed in his efforts to lift the country from economic doldrums and resolve lingering security challenges.
He assured Nigerians of the APC-led government’s commitment to improving the welfare and well-being of all citizens, noting that Nigerians will not regret voting for President Tinubu after his first tenure.
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Abia: LG Chairman, Iheke accused of using soldiers to detain IRS agent, claims Governor Otti’s support
The Chairman of Aba North Local Government Council, Hon. Timothy Kalu Iheke has been accused of excesses and high-handedness in revenue collection at the popular Ariaria International Market.
In a statement issued on Monday by Ariaria Stakeholders Forum and signed by its Chairman, Chief Emmanuel Chukwudi and Secretary, Chief Boniface Kalu on Sunday, the Forum lamented the excesses of the Local Government where he used the soldiers to detain the Managing Director of Star Nkey Ventures, Mr Benedict Elias who is a law abiding citizen.
The statement made available to CAPITAL POST pointed out that Mr Elias was duely appointed as agent to Abia Stat3 Board of Internal Revenue Service (ABIRS), hence, he wasn’t carrying out illegality.
The LG however claimed to have the backing of Governor Alex Otti, but further findings revealed that the Governor would never support illegality to the extent that a law abiding citizen was arrested and detained.
A source told CAPITAL POST in Umuahia that Governor Otti believes in the rule of law and will not support any intimidation whatsoever.
Partof the statement read: “The attention of Ariaria Stakeholders Forum (ASF) have been formally drawn to the unlawful and improper action taken by the Local Government Chairman of Aba North Local Government, Mr Timothy Kalu Iheke who used soldiers to illegally arrest and detain the Managing Director of Star Nkey Ventures Nig, Mr Benedict Elias, a duely appointed Revenue Agent of Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), regarding the revenue collection at Ariaria International Market, Aba, Abia State.
“The Local Government Chairman of Aba North, Mr Timothy Iheke had attempted to unlawfully assume control over the revenue collection operations at the Ariaria Market, which is under the jurisdiction and authority of the Abia State Government wherein the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service (BIRS) is saddled with the responsibility of revenue collection in the said market.
“The Local Government Chairman has no legal authority to interfere with or take control of the revenue collection process that falls under the remit of the State Government market.
“However, despite this, the LG Chairman Mr Iheke had unlawfully and wrongfully used soldiers who before now have been banned by the appreciate authorities from engaging in such illicit activities to unlawfully arrest without any warrant of arrest and illegally detain Mr. Benedict Elias without any detention order at Central Police Station (CPS) Umuahia for two days over false and baseless allegations.
“Mr Benedict Elias the Managing Director of Star Nkey Ventures Nig. a duly appointed and authorized Revenue Agent of the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service was falsely accused of impersonation and of being a fake revenue agent, charges that are entirely unfounded and baseless.
“We would like to emphasize that Mr. Benedict Elias was legally and duely appointed on 13 September 2024 to 31 January 2025 by the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service, BIRS, and was fully authorized to carry out revenue collection and enforcement duties at the Ariaria market which he stopped collection of any revenue at the expiration of the said contract with the state government.
“His appointment letter and identification as a state revenue agent, were in full compliance with the law and can be verified by the relevant authorities.
“The actions taken by the Local Government Chairman Mr Iheke and his unauthorized use of soldiers to arrest a legitimate state revenue agent are highly concerning and represent an overstep of authority.
“This interference not only disrupts the lawful revenue collection process but also undermines the authority of the State Executive Governor, Dr Alex Chioma Otti on which Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service is working for.
“The Board Chairman of BIRS had on many occasions warned Mr Timothy iheke to desist from harassing a Mr Benedict Elias and his team who are bonafide Abia State revenue agent in Ariaria market which is state owned but Iheke blatantly refused but rather threatened to deal with the Board Chairman for telling him to desist from working against the interest of the state government.
“As Stakeholders of Ariaria International Market which most of our members have been doing business in the market for over 40 years, we know Mr. Benedict Elias and he has never been involved in any form of illegality or any questionable acts. He is a man of integrity and uprightness.
“We respectfully request that an immediate investigation be initiated into the actions of the Local Government Chairman, Mr Timothy Iheke, and the use of soldiers in this unlawful arrest. Additionally, we ask that Mr. Benedict’s name be cleared and any wrongful actions against him be rectified.
“The relevant authorities at the Abia State Board of Internal Revenue Service should be consulted to verify Mr. Benedict’s legitimate position and the legal framework governing revenue collection at the Ariaria market.
“We trust that a thorough investigation will be conducted and appropriate action taken to ensure that the Aba North Chairman, Mr Timothy Iheke is brought to book to account for the use of soldiers on an unarmed and law-abiding civilian Mr Benedict Elias.”
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Abia: LG Chairman, Iheke accused of using soldiers to detain IRS agent, claims Governor Otti’s support