Politics
IPOB/ESN Killings in Southeast: Peter Obi’s Silence No Longer Golden – CLAN
IPOB/ESN Killings in Southeast: Peter Obi’s Silence No Longer Golden – CLAN
The Civil Liberty Advocates of Nigeria (CLAN) has noted with alarm the continued killing of innocent Nigerians in the southeast of the country by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) linked terrorists of the Eastern Security Network (ESN) operating under the franchise of Unknown Gunmen as we have now concluded true Nigerian patriots must be bold in condemning the criminal acts.
What we find more worrisome and more odious than the killings is the loud silence from the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Mr. Peter Obi, who has refused to categorically speak against the carnage that IPOB and ESN have unleashed in the southeast even when is arguably the most important person from the geo-political zone to weigh in on the matter on account of his current political enterprise.
It is on account of this that the expectation among right thinking members of the society is that Mr. Obi would have by now roundly condemned the wanton waste of human lives by the terrorists under the pretext of agitating for self-determination, which actually undermines the Labour Party candidate’s interest since he can only become president of a united Nigeria and not one fractured into ethnic enclaves as his kinsmen are agitating for.
In our view, irrespective of the political sensitivity associated with calling out those behind this wanton waste of human lives, Mr. Obi’s refusal to swallow the bitter pill and demand an end to the killings by IPOB/ESN is a red flag that we are not taking lightly. The implication of his deafening silence is that he would be nonchalant when IPOB/ESN take their killings to other parts of Nigeria under his watch as president, assuming he was so elected.
CLAN has carefully evaluated Mr. Obi’s indifference to the killing of Nigerians by these terrorists in the southeast and have concluded that it is becoming increasingly difficult for the Labour Party candidate to justify that he does not endorse the criminality of IPOB/ESN on account of ethnic sympathy because his stance on them or lack of it defies logic. From all indications, the terrorists interpret Mr. Obi’s failure to censure them as encouragement to harm more people.
The lame excuses some of his associates have put up on his behalf are not tenable. For instance, arguing that there are terrorist killings in other geo-political zones is not contextually similar to what is going on in the southeast; the terrorists operating in the northeast and northwest have been the subject of denouncement and condemnation by some prominent politicians and influential people from these areas, who took such bold steps even when the perpetrators are of the same ethnic and sectarian stock as them. Besides, the terrorists in these other instances are acting on the basis of extremism and not separatism as is the case with IPOB.
We find it tragic that because of Mr. Obi’s silence on this matter there are now insinuations that he has failed to properly respond to the threat posed by IPOB/ESN because the terrorists have collapsed the political wings of their organizations into his OBIdient movement. The explanation from those holding this view is that IPOB’s hostile anti-Nigeria rhetoric have grown silent as such vituperations are now the hallmark of members of the OBIdient movement, some of whom are known IPOB online propagandists before their new roles as campaigners for the Labour Party candidate.
CLAN therefore insists that Mr. Peter Obi’s silence on the killing of Nigerians in the southeast is no longer golden. We therefore demand that Mr. Obi calls IPOB and ESN to order to stop killings of innocent Nigerians, including his kinsmen and people of other sectarian and ethnic affiliations. He must speak out and not be a hypocrite.
–Maxwell John Eche,
Executive Director, CLAN
*Go out and vote, it’s your right – Ogun APC charges electorate*
As the party campaigns for the 2024 Local Government election in Ogun State draws to a close midnight of today (Thursday), the All Progressives Congress, APC, has charged registered voters in Ogun State to go out and exercise their fundamentals rights on Saturday “without any fear whatsoever”.
Addressing the grand finale of APC in Odogbolu Local Government, the Publicity Secretary of the party in Ogun State, Tunde Oladunjoye said, “APC has done very well under the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun, and we are poised to win the chairmanship and councilorship elections overwhelmingly come Saturday”.
Oladunjoye, who is also Senior Media Consultant to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Media, thanked the Odogbolu people for showing massive support to the APC in the local government.
“With what I have seen here, victory is sure. I want to thank you on behalf of the Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, CON and the Chairman of APC in Ogun State, Chief Yemi Sanusi. “Come out and vote peacefully on Saturday. It is your constitutional duty and obligation.”
Oladunjoye added that people should learn from the chairmanship candidate of the party in Odogbolu local government, Dr. Babatunde Oyetola Diya, who vied for the office about three and half years ago and did not get it, but remained faithful in the party and continued to reach out to people with his humanitarian efforts.”
Anthony Ojo congratulates Gov Okpebholo, confirms Edo Central Senate aspiration
Influential Edo State politician, Anthony Ojo has congratulated Senator Monday Okpebholo after being sworn-in as the new Governor of the State.
In his congratulatory message, Ojo expressed confidence in the abilities of Gov Okpebholo to bring the dividends of democracy close to the people of Edo State.
“The people of Edo State have total trust in your five-point agenda, capacity as a leader, and this is evident with their immense show of love. We have no single doubt that under you, this state will progress to the promised land,” the statement reads.
Meanwhile, Anthony Ojo has confirmed his aspiration to contest the Edo Central senatorial seat under the flagship of the All Progressives Congress (APC), a position previously held by Senator Okpebholo before he was elected governor.
He cited that sharing the same leadership ideologies with Governor Okpebholo, and the keen desire for transformative human and capacity developments in Edo State are the reasons behind his ambition.
He promised to work closely with the Governor to provide succour to Edo citizens.
Appeal Court Further Affirms Udeze-led NEC Of Action Alliance As Valid, Authentic
ABUJA – The Appeal Court sitting in Abuja has further affirmed Chief Barr. Kenneth Udeze-led National Executive Committee (NEC) of Action Alliance (AA) elected on 14th March 2021 National Convention of the party as valid and authentic.
Action Alliance, in a statement by its National Secretary, Vernimbe A James said, “the court of appeal Abuja Division today in Appeal Number; CA/ABJ/CV/1163/2024 in a lead Judgement delivered by Hon.Justics Abba Mohammed which was concord by the other two Justices dismissed the appeal filed by Adekunle Omoaje faction through one Miller C.Orgwu ( on behalf of himself and all NEC Members Elected at Action Alliance Elective National Convention of 7th of October,2023, held at OOPL Abeokuta, Ogun State ) against 1, INEC, 2, Kenneth Udeze,3, James Vernimbe, 4, Akinuli Fred Omolere.
“The Court also awarded N400,000 cost against the appellants in favor of the Respondents.
The appeal was about the validity of the powers of Action Alliance NEC under Chief Kenneth Udeze led executive to conduct the party Governorship primary in Ondo State for the upcoming Saturday 16th November 2024, Governorship Election.
“The Federal High Court Abuja Division had earlier In Suit Number; FHC/ABJ/ CS/626/2024 Between Miller Orgwu and others (Omoaje faction) claiming to be authentic NEC of the party against 1, INEC, 2, KENNETH UDEZE,3, JAMES VERNIMBE, 4, AKINULI FRED OMOLERE presided by HON. JUSTICE JOYCE O.ABDULMALIK on 24th, September 2024 dismissed their Claim and validated the Ondo State Governorship Primary Election Conducted by Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance NEC as valid and authentic, thereby Confirming the Ondo State Governorship Candidate of the party AKINULI FRED OMOLERE as the valid Candidate of the party for the 16th, November 2024 Governorship Election in Ondo State.”
The statement further said: “On 28 March 2022, the FCT High Court Abuja had affirmed and validated the Action Alliance National Convention held on 14th, March 2021 wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led NEC of the party were elected.
“Dissatisfied with the said Judgement, one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others were granted leave of the court of appeal to appeal same Judgement.
“On the 26th, January 2024, the Court of Appeal Abuja Division in Appeal Number; CA/ ABJ/ CV/ 955/22 Between Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others and Chief Uzewuru Nwachukwu and others further Affirmed the FCT High Court Judgement that earlier validated the Action Alliance National Convention of 14th March,2021 wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance (AA) NEC of the party was elected.
“Dissatisfied with the appeal court Judgement one Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others have appealed the Judgement to the Supreme Court of Nigeria in appeal Number: SC/ CV/162/2024 Between Adekunle Rufai Omoaje and others and Chief Uzewuru Nwachukwu and others, the matter is still pending at the Supreme Court of Nigeria which he has abandoned but desperately looking for how to come through the back door to claim the leadership of Action Alliance.”
The statement also explained that “INEC has since Complied with the Judgements validating the 14th, March 2021 National Convention of the party wherein Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze led Action Alliance NEC of the party was elected and uploaded on its website the Name of Chief Barr Kenneth Udeze- National Chairman, Vernimbe A James -National Secretary and other Elected NEC of the party as authentic.
“There is no court ruling or Judgement that Affirmed or validated any other National Convention of Action Alliance (AA) held on any other date apart from the 14th, March 2021 National Convention of the party which Courts have already and variously validated.”
Ezenwa Ibegbunam, who is the Counsel to Chief Fred Omolere, the governorship candidate of the party affirmed by the Court, noted that the judgment has further restated the correct position of the law and a vindication of the previous decision of the Court of Appeal which had earlier affirmed Chief Udeze led executive as the authentic leadership of the Action Alliance.
On his part, Chief Kenneth Udeze has praised the Court of Appeal as a citadel of justice and urged the party members across the country to remain focused.
He further noted that the Judgment has cleared the way for the victory of the party in the Ondo State gubernatorial election.
Source: Daily Independent
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