…as state celebrates 45th creation anniversary

Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State said on Wednesday that his government will continue to implement policies and programmes that will ensure that the state remains a pace-setter in both human and physical development.

The governor, who stated this while congratulating indigenes and residents of the state on the 45th anniversary of the creation of Oyo State, declared that his administration has been executing programmes that target the growth of the state’s economy, the upliftment of its people and the transformation of its infrastructure.

He acknowledged the contributions of individuals whom he described as heroes of the state, including former military and civilian administrators, civil/public servants, traditional rulers, religious leaders, past and present and service commanders in the state as well as law-abiding residents.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the governor felicitated all residents of the state, while also appreciating the efforts of its past heroes for the roles they played in building the state to the present level.

He pledged the commitment of his government to ensuring that the standard of excellence the state is known for, is not diminished, stating that the incumbent administration remains conscious of the pace-setting testimonial of Oyo State and will continue to do everything to improve it.

The governor said: “As we celebrate the 45th anniversary of the creation of Oyo State, I felicitate my people on this epochal occasion.

“We appreciate the labour of our heroes past and the immense contributions made towards the growth and progress of the state by former administrators, traditional rulers, religious leaders, security agents and law-abiding residents.

“Today, we are proud to say that Oyo State continues to stand tall as a pace-setter in excellence across different sectors. And, in line with our promise to the people during the electioneering period, we will continue to maintain the standard of excellence the state is known for.

“Already, our government has been implementing policies and programmes that will make the state continue to set the pace in physical, infrastructure and human developments.

“This will continue in the years to come, as we are not going to rest on our oars until Oyo State becomes the state of everyone’s dreams.

“However, this occasion, more than anything else, is a challenge to all citizens and residents of Oyo State: it is another opportunity to bond in the interest of our great state, an opportunity to unite against anything that assails our dear state.

“The state belongs to all of us. As I said while addressing the people during my visit to Ibarapaland, irrespective of our political differences, we must put the interest of our state first, because it will outlast all political tendencies.

“Once again, I congratulate every indigene and resident of Oyo State on this landmark. It is my prayer that God who has brought the state this far will continue to be with us all as we contribute our quota towards its success.”

Signed

Taiwo Adisa

Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde

The concern raised by Edward Chigozie Stanley is disturbing. There are many who are still paying lip service to Igbo unity. They agree that Igbo should unite, but practically they keep on dwelling in the past. Some of them are members of this group. Their arguments keep creating more division than unity.

The IGBO HISTORY forum aims to reconcile all the Igbo subgroups through sharing our common ancestral past and values. It is heart warming to say some achievement has been recorded in this regard. Some members of this forum are Ikwerre, Anioma, and so on. However, we have to be cautious in our views, which seem to be emphasizing much more on the past than looking forward to the future.

It may not be the fault of Ikwerre, Anioma, and the rest of Igbo outside South East being annexed to other regions. Their location throws up some challenges which should be managed carefully. As Chigozie Stanley rightly pointed out, they are being confronted with some form of isolation and dilemma. For example, other stakeholders in South-South see Ikwerre and Anioma as Igbo. They feel their interest is protected in Igbo South East. Now, how does South East perceive our kinsmen when it comes to allocation of resources and political appointments to Igbo? The thinking of most of us is that every appointment or allocation for Igbo must go to South East. Those who hold this view may partially be right, especially when one considers distribution of political appointments is based on geographical region. However, whenever it does not happen that way, the region should behave wisely.

It is deplorable the reactions from South East Igbo that trailed the recent appointment of General Lucky Eluonye Onyenuchea Irabor, as Nigeria Chief of Defence Staff. He hails from Agbor, Anioma Igbo, South South. Many South East Igbo questioned his Igbo origin. Some said he is from Edo; some said he is Esan; others called him South South. Only few insisted he is Igbo. This happened, though his two middle names are Igbo. We know the influence of Bini on Agbor, an Igbo group sharing boundary with Bini. When people who should understand better raise their voices so loud to disown their own, how would the person concerned and his community feel?

All Igbo need to have proper understanding of the political dynamics of our country vis-a-vis the position of South East. In this regard, what should matter most to the region is the overall Igbo interest. If an appointment skips South East and goes to South South of Igbo extraction, South East should not grumble. The region should accept the appointee, being their own; it should embrace him. After all, the appointee is first and foremost an Igbo. In that case, the appointee should endeavor to appreciate his status as that of one standing in the gap between South East and South South.

It is imperative South East embraces and supports every Igbo man appointed to prominent position, irrespective of his geopolitical region. It should learn to be “operating behind the seen”, giving necessary moral support, while at the same influencing the appointee to as well protect South East interest.

South East Igbo must desist from insisting every political appointment for Igbo must go to South East. Holding on to such claims would be antagonizing our brethren on the other sides. The more we keep on emphasizing so much on South East Igbo interest, the more we make our brethren on the other sides feel they are not part of us. We should strive to manage very well the two conflicting positions.

The region should also begin to exhibit selfless leadership. A selfless leader would always deny themselves some legitimate rights for the overall good of their subjects. This is one of the prices true leadership has to pay in this case.

Again, South East Igbo should also stop beating this drum of “they say they are not Igbo”. That could be what they were saying in the past. The region should much more be interested in what they are saying today. There are indications the narrative has tremendously changed. Even if few, for some political reasons, they are still say so, you should treat them with some maturity, correcting them with brotherly love where and when necessary. However, the region should never cease reminding them of their blood bond with South East.

Lastly, a good number of us are temperamental. They get easily provoked when opinion of other people differ from theirs. We rain abuses on others for their contrary views; we call them names; we insult them. Igbo should do well to address this issue. We provoke people more when we abuse them, however stupid and irrational their views could be. Igbo should learn how to address difficult people without abusing them. If someone disagrees with you, use superior logical argument to follow them.

In conclusion, this article is calling on every Igbo to adopt a more constructive approach in addressing their numerous challenges.

· Says the School will breed a more people-friendly and human rights compliant Police Force

The Inspector General of Police, IGP M.A Adamu, NPM, mni today, 29th January, 2021 commissioned the newly constructed Nigeria Police Public Relations School, Lafia, Nasarawa State. The Police PR School, which is one of the legacy projects of the Force within the past 2 years, will help to breed a more people-friendly, professional and human rights compliant Police Force, in addition to improving capacity and bridging public relations knowledge gaps amongst personnel of the Force.

The IGP, in his key note address, noted that the construction of the School is in tandem with the vision of the Force to promote quality service delivery through constant training and re-training of personnel of the Force.

The IGP while thanking the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari for the unrelenting commitment of the Federal Government towards providing necessary training infrastructural requirement and other organizational assets of the Force, also expressed appreciation to the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State, His Excellency, Engr. Abdullahi Sule and the host community for providing a very serene and conducive environment for the construction of the school. The IGP assured that the school will bring policing closer to the people and foster improved police-citizens relationship.

In his remarks, the Executive Governor of Nasarawa State commended the IGP for the laudable project and assured of the Government’s continued support towards the smooth running of the School and the Police in general.

The Nigeria Police PR School is open to all lovers of knowledge within and outside the shores of Nigeria and shall be offering relevant programs in the field of public relations, emotional intelligence, psychology, sociology, community policing, strategic leadership etc.

Also in attendance at the commissioning ceremony are; the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, the Emir of Lafia, Hon. Justice Side Bage Muhammad I, members of the Force Management Team, DIG David Folawiyo, mni and DIG Joseph Egbunike, the Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Lafia, Prof. Muhammad Sanusi Liman, the President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Mallam Muktar Sirajo and Member, Academic Board Nigeria Police PR School, Lafia, Prof Emmanuel Dandaura.

CP FRANK MBA
FORCE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER
FORCE HEADQUARTERS
ABUJA

Igwe said her father died two years ago, and since then, life has become difficult for her even though her father was a relatively wealthy man, who left behind houses, land and money in the bank.

Onyinye Igwe, has challenged the tradition of giving parents’ inheritance to only male children in Igbo land, after her brothers took all the property their father left for them.

In her interview with BBC, Igwe said her father died two years ago, and since then, life has become difficult for her even though her father was a relatively wealthy man, who left behind houses, land and money in the bank.

Igwe said her father died without writing a will, so the duty of sharing out his estate went to his children.

Despite being the first child, Igwe said she and her five sisters were not given any part of the inheritance.

According to her, everything went to the three men in the family as is the custom among the Igbo people.
She said, “The men [her brothers] claimed all that our father had.

“They told us [women] that we are going to get married into another person’s home so we don’t have anything from our father. Because that’s the tradition, we didn’t fight with them.”

Igwe said she could no longer afford to pursue her university education and now runs a small business selling cooked noodles in Abagana town in Anambra state.

Another woman, Evelyn Onyenokwalu, the first child in a family of four said her only brother, though the last born, inherited the father’s entire estate, including the family house.

She said people had to help beg her brother before he gave her a single room in the family house with an order that she must always leave the door of the room open.

What’s your Opinion on this? Is this part of our tradition or wickedness? Please let’s discuss this.

Ikenga Ndi Igbo

A block of shops built under high tension cables in Awada, Obosi have been sealed by officials of Anambra state Physical Planning Board.

The block of shops which is still under construction has EEDC power cables running across it which is hazardous to health of ndi Anambra.

General Manager of the board, Mr Nwabufo Anene who led the enforcement exercise said that the move became neccessary to serve as warning to traders who are already occupying the shops, unaware of the health implication.

He explained that EEDC had written them on several occasions to warn occupants of the shops to vacate the premises.

Officials of the Board also sealed an ongoing building in Obosi.
The building which has been marked for demolition, sits on access road into three other compounds, against the provisions of the law.

By Ejike Abana (ABS Government House Correspondent)