Nigeria: Igbos claim Owonifari Market demolition ethnically motivated-IBTimes UK

Nigeria: Igbos claim Owonifari Market demolition ethnically motivated-IBTimes UK


The government of Lagos state, Nigeria’s commercial hub, has defended its decision to demolish a local market by saying it is part of a plan to bring safety and development to the area. Authorities dismantled the Owonifari Market in the local government area of Oshodi between 6 and 7 January arguing that the site was “a den of criminals”.

However, the demolition enraged many, who accused the government of not giving enough time to vendors to collect their goods. The South East Amalgamated Marketers Traders Association (Semata) alleged that the demolition mostly affected Igbo people, one of Nigeria’s largest ethnic groups.
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Semata’s President Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo said in a statement: “The traders there are mostly Igbos who travelled for the [Christmas] celebration. Why did the demolition take place at their absence? We condemn [it] and demand for compensation to those that lost their goods to the demolition.”
Maduabuchukwu Anyagulu, an Igbo businessman from Anambra state, told IBTimes UK it was not the first time that a market where Igbos had stalls and shops had been targeted. He alleged that the Yoruba and Hausa ethnic groups prevent Igbos from doing business and developing.

He said: “My people are very slow to come to terms with the fact that in Nigeria today our very means of survival and relevance are in danger and under attack.”

Some Igbos identify themselves as Biafrans, a term used to define people living in the Biafran territories that were forcibly annexed to present-day Nigeria during the British colonisation. “I do not want to appear to be spreading hate, but it is factual that if the Yorubas and Hausas had allowed the Biafran man the space to excel, Nigeria would have been a great country,” Anyagulu added.

Government’s response
Lagos’s commissioner for information and strategy, Steve Ayorinde, said during a press conference that traders had been informed about the government’s plan on 21 December. He also denied that the traders’ goods were confiscated or destroyed and insisted business owners were offered to relocate to a newly built market area in the nearby Bolanle that is able to accommodate around 600 shops, news agency NAN reported.

The commissioner explained that local authorities tried to repeatedly engage with the leadership of the market and that the issue of safety had been going on for about 10 years. He added the government agreed to pay N5,000 (£171) for each shop that relocated to Bolanle area.

He said: “There is nowhere in Lagos where you will agree to be paying N5,000 per shop not to talk of central Oshodi, but the governor agreed with them and we said we were ready to concede after which we now formally served them with a quit notice through the office of the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development.”

Some traders are believed to have refused to relocate to the new market area, however.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr Muslim Folami said during the conference that he was present during the demolition, during which weapons and a bunker were discovered in the market.

Oshodi Market was Demolished Due to Biafra Agitation, Says Lagos Govt; Traders Demand N20b Compensation

Oshodi Market was Demolished Due to Biafra Agitation, Says Lagos Govt; Traders Demand N20b Compensation
Igbo Traders in the demolished Owonifari market, Oshodi yesterday demanded for 20 billion naira from the Lagos State government for properties and goods lost to the demolition.

The traders under the Igbo Traders Congress while protesting the demolition at the market denied allegations by the Lagos State government that Biafra agitators were holding meetings inside the market.

Speaking on behalf of the traders, Chibuzor Onugha said the demolition was targeted at Igbo traders in the state.

“We are being punished because PDP won in this area, they alleged that the we are holding Biafra meeting its all false, they just want to punish the Igbo’s for political reasons,” Onugha said.

The traders said the state government breached the court Injunction against demolition, saying its heading to court to seek compensation against the 20 billion goods lost to the demolition.

He said the markets accommodated about 5000 traders while the government only provided slots for 600 traders at the new Isopakodowo market.


Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde said the traders were adequately notified before the exercise took place as required by law, and that government engaged with the leadership of the market severally before carrying out the demolition exercise on Owonifari Market.

While clarifying issues on the demolition which took place on January 5, 2016, Ayorinde said it was important for people to note that the issue of the market had been on for nothing less than ten years, adding that government had been engaging the leadership of the market to make them realize that it could no longer continue in the manner in which the market was being used.

He said unfortunately, the leadership of the market, in the last three years, refused to move despite the fact that the new market has over 600 shops apart from the kee clamps which takes the number of people that the market could conveniently accommodate to over a thousand all together.

IKPEAZU CONCLUDES PLAN TO JOIN APC IN A BID TO RETAIN HIS SEAT AS ABIA GOVERNOR (PHOTOS)

IKPEAZU CONCLUDES PLAN TO JOIN APC IN A BID TO RETAIN HIS SEAT AS ABIA GOVERNOR (PHOTOS)

DR OKEZIE IKPEAZU SHOULD KNOW THAT ONLY DOGS GO BACK TO THEIR VOMITS 

APC is a party that Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and his godfather T.A. Orji did everything to kill in Abia State. One of their actions was stopping Buhari and APC from using any government facility in Abia State for their campaigns. They were calling APC Boko Haram party and even insulted HRM Eze Isaac Ikonne for giving Buhari title when he visited Aba.

We even heard that after Buhari left Aba, that the former governor was jesting that imagine how Buhari, Ngige and Rochas were roaming about at Faulks road Aba like an unburied corpse (Ozu Akwaghi Akwa). Even when T.A. Orji was told that Buhari visited Ariaria, He questioned whether he went to Ariaria to sell pure water, buy takalami (slipper) or to help offload tomatoes from north.

You know T.A. Orji would always be funny. But today the table has turn around. The stone that Dr. Ikpeazu and his master insulted, rejected is now becoming chief cornerstone. The party they wanted to destroy is where Dr. Ikpeazu is begging for help. Ikpeazu is now seeking salvation in APC trying to lure Rochas to aid his entrance. The same man who some paid maggots on social Medias is asking Abians to trust.

The same Ikpeazu they called the beautiful one and a man of his word. The same man they see as Igbo agenda that will make Biafra possible. The same man that they said he won election and protesting because he promised them to carry Igbo agenda along. The above pictures can now judge, Dr. Ikpeazu has gone on his knee begging Rochas to connect him with Buhari for him to join APC. This is very sorry for those believing the product of T.A. Orji. 

Ndi Abia and Ikpeazu Supporters can you now see why we are rejecting anything from T.A. Orji because it can’t be trusted. Do you remember that T.A.Orji betrayed Ojukwu after joining APGA and decamped to PDP within 3 days? Till Ojukwu died T.A.Orji was his worst disappointment. Therefore before you support anybody check his background and source because whatever snake beget must be long. And as for you Dr. Ikpeazu never forgets that it is only Dogs that go back to their vomits.

WHY I JOINED APC – Senator Ekwunife

WHY I JOINED APC – Senator Ekwunife
Today, I officially joined the All Progressives Congress (APC).
You will recall that the election which returned me as your Senator was mischievously cancelled. The reason which the court adduced was that I was not duly and legitimately nominated as the PDP flag bearer for Anambra Central Senatorial election in 2015.
I also wish to let you know that a Federal High Court Abuja has Prior to this judgement upheld my candidacy in a suit filled by Chief Sylvester Okonkwo challenging the validity of my candidacy.
But then, even if I were not the valid candidate, the right thing for the court was to declare whosoever came second in the PDP Primaries as the authentic candidate and thereby replacing me as it is purely a party matter.
But the court which was FATHER CHRISTMAS granted Victor Umeh what he did not pray for, as his prayer was for the court to declare him winner of the election.
The court which has before it enough evidence that Umeh lost went ahead to nullify the election on the basis of what they called invalid primaries of the Anambra State PDP. A reason which is not strong enough to cancel the election in an appeal filled by APGA and Umeh as other political parties also contested in the election.


The questions remain,

i. How can invalid PDP primaries affect an election which other political parties participated in?
ii. Why should the invalid PDP primaries be a source of granting Umeh who took me to court the nullification of the election which other political parties (which did not go to court) participated in?

iii. Why was my own election the only one that was canceled when the same invalid PDP primaries produced other PDP Senators, Members of the House of Representatives as well as State Assembly Members?

My good people of Anambra Central, the outcome of what we witnessed was a conspiracy between some elements in PDP and the State Government who were panicking over what they referred to as my rising profile.

I am focused and my major concern is to bring back the dividends of democracy to my people. These I have done so far by

i. Being the first woman to be appointed the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream.
ii. Sponsoring, moving and leading many Bills and Motions on the floor of the Senate among which is the motion on FLOOD AND EROSION DISASTER IN AWKA, ISUANAOCHA, OBOSI AND OTHER COMMUNITIES IN ANAMBRA CENTRAL.
iii. I also influenced and led the Senate Ad hoc Committee to Anambra State to see and have a first hand touch of what my people are experiencing.
iv. Partnering with the Federal Government to ensure adequate supply of petroleum products
v. Assisted Seven youths to gain employment in the Federal Service since I became a Senator six months ago.
vi. Among others quite numerous to mention here.

Even after these minor setbacks, I advised PDP to conduct primaries in other to produce a candidate who will fly the party’s flag in the oncoming repeat election, but since then, nothing meaningful has been done as they are busy creating more confusion in the party. A confusion which will lead the party nowhere.

My good people of Anambra Central Senatorial District; taking cognizance of these developments, I took time to make wide consultations and have decided to join the All Progressive Congress (APC).

It is true some of us did not give our support to APC in the previous election, it is true you voted for me massively in PDP, but then my brothers and sisters, that seed of confusion that militated against PDP in the previous election is still inherent and may not be of any good to any people.

We Ndigbo cannot continue to be relegated from the national bargain which we are co-owners. This is the time to join forces with the Federal Government to move our country forward.

I remain your amiable lawmaker, I remain your dogged Senator, I promise to give you a much better representation.

Accept the assurances of my best regards.

Thanks.

A RESPECTED LAWYER APPLAUDS ABIA GOVERNORHIP APPEAL JUDGMENT

A RESPECTED LAWYER APPLAUDS ABIA GOVERNORHIP APPEAL JUDGMENT

Lawyer Hails Judgement

An erudite lawyer has defended the Judgement of the appeal Court that sacked the PDP Governor of Abia State and Declared the APGA candidate Dr Alex Otti (OFR) winner of the election & Governor Elect .

Speaking this morning on AIT , the erudite lawyer Barr Oracle has asked the embattled sacked governor of Abia Dr Okezie Ikpeazu to accept defeat or face more devastating defeat at the Supreme Court .

Saying that the Judgement was victory for the rule of law & democracy .

EFCC wants to force arrested PDP spokesman, Metuh, to write statement — Fayose

EFCC wants to force arrested PDP spokesman, Metuh, to write statement — Fayose

Ayo Fayose, Ekiti state governor.

 

The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has challenged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, to charge the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, to court if the commission has evidence of fraud against him.

“The EFCC appears to be operating a system in which an accused person is first arrested, detained endlessly while the anti-corruption agency goes about looking for evidence,” the governor said.

Mr. Fayose, who maintained his support for a genuine fight against corruption, challenged the EFCC to also act on petitions submitted to it against All Progressives Congress chieftains and President Buhari’s election sponsors.

Speaking through his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, on Friday, Mr. Fayose cautioned that nothing untoward must happen to Mr. Metuh, adding that the APC’s desperation to decimate and silence the opposition has dragged the Buhari-led government in the mud of lawlessness.

The governor said, “In saner climes, you don’t arrest people for alleged fraud and start to look for evidence to prosecute them.

Rather, before you arrest anyone for fraud, anti-corruption agencies must have established a prima facie case and arresting the suspect will only be to enable for his or her arraignment in court.

“However, what we are witnessing in Nigeria today is a situation whereby the EFCC will arrest PDP leaders, humiliate them by subjecting them to media trial, detain them for weeks in the process of trying to force them to make statements during which the commission will be looking for evidence.

“For instance, in the case of Metuh, we are being told that the EFCC is insisting that he must write statements and one begins to wonder if it has now become mandatory for an accused to write statements in law enforcement agent’s custody. Shouldn’t the EFCC have simply charged Metuh to court based on its own evidence? Or is Metuh’s statement the evidence the EFCC requires to prosecute him?

“The international community, especially the United Nations (UN), African Union (AU), European Union (EU) and others are put on notice on this condemnable act of arresting and detaining opposition leaders by agents of the Buhari-led government before fishing for evidence.”

While challenging the President Buhari to extend his anti-corruption crusade to those who sponsored his election, Governor Fayose said any anti-corruption effort that targets only members of the opposition and those with axe to grind with the government of the day can never succeed.

“If President Buhari did not wait for any petition to move against PDP chieftains, asking people to come forward with allegations of corruption against APC chieftains, especially those who sponsored President Buhari’s election is clearly hypocritical.

“Most importantly, that the EFCC Acting Chairman, Ibrahim Magu even said the commission do not have any petition against APC chieftains when indeed there are loads of petitions against ministers serving in Buhari’s government and other notable APC chieftains goes to show the hypocrisy of the fight against corruption.

“It is even more hypocritical and anti-democratic for the President to have turned himself to the accuser, prosecutor and judge, carrying on as if those he accused of corruption have already been convicted,” the
governor said.

BISHOP OYEDEPO OF WINNERS CHAPEL REPORTEDLY RETIRES; TO HAND OVER TO  SON 10TH JAN 2016

It seems the General Overseer and founder of Living Faith worldwide Bishop Oyedepo is set to retire from active service.

Bishop David Oyedepo

The church popularly known as Winners Chapel is about to witness a change of baton as the first son of Oyedepo, David Oyedepo Jnr is set to take over the leadership of the church from his father Bishop Oyedepo who has been at the helms of affair of the church since inception come Sunday, January 10.

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Oyedepo Jnr who is the resident pastor of the London Branch of the Winners Chapel is expected to be at the leadership forum of the Church holding on Saturday at Canaanland Ota where he would be officially presented to the leaders of the Church as the new resident pastor in charge of the Faith Tabernacle, Ota.

As the resident pastor of Faith Tabernacle, Ota, he is expected to oversee the activities of the church worldwide and forward such to his father, Bishop David Oyedepo. There is possibility of alignment and re-alignment in the pastorate of the church with the coming of David Oyedepo junior as the resident pastor, as some pastors are likely to be redeploy, to pace way for the young ones in the ministry.

Meanwhile, the proposed hundred thousand sitter capacity auditorium of the Winners Chapel is expected to gulp a whopping sum of 50 billion naira.

This was revealed exclusively to Naij.com by a senior pastor in the ministry. He said: “The church is not taken anything for granted about the edifice, which is a first class structure all over the world. The money needed to complete the structure will not be less than N50 billion according to the findings and discussion on it.”

The project is expected to start before the end of the first quarter of the year and end in less than 24 months.
Meanwhile, a Facebook user, Endy Edeson, who was at this 2015 Winners Chapel Shiloh has claimed that the presiding bishop of the church, Bishop David Oyedepo, miraculously performed a miracle which made a woman’s boobs grow bigger.

Story sent in by Tope Olukole