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Ohanaeze Youths Reject Creation Of Orlu, Etiti States, Want Anioma
The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC) has expressed its opposition to the creation of Orlu and Etiti States.
Instead, the youths urged the proponents of Orlu and Etiti States to support the birth of Anioma State.
In a press conference held on the 22 June, 2024, at the NUJ Press Center in Owerri, Imo State, National President, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka said as the apex socio-cultural youth organization of Ndigbo, they believe in the principles of equity, justice, and fairness.
The group also commended Senator Prince Chinedu Nwoko, also known as Ned Nwoko, for his well-articulated bill seeking the creation of an additional state in the southeast geopolitical zone to achieve political balance.
The council emphasizes the need for political equality in Nigeria, particularly in the southeastern region, which currently has only five states compared to the six states in other geopolitical zones, except for the North West with seven states.
“The bill presented by Nwoko highlights the importance of creating more states in the country to provide equal opportunities and political representation for the southwesterners.
The OYC believes that any progressive and patriotic Nigerian should not oppose the bill but support it as a means to promote national unity, integrity, fairness, and equity.
“The creation of Anioma State, as opposed to Orlu or Etiti State, should be seen as a step towards balanced political representation rather than regional benefits.
“The council acknowledges that injustice and lack of political equality have contributed to the current state of Nigeria. The creation of Anioma State is seen as a rescue mission to restore political balance and address the ongoing ethnic and political crises in the country.
“The proponents of Anioma State, unlike those supporting Orlu and Etiti States, demonstrate selflessness, equity, and fairness. The creation of Anioma State would also contribute to resolving ethnic conflicts in Edo and Delta States by considering the geographical dynamics and socio-political behaviors of the area,” the group said.
The council highlights that the proposed component of Anioma State shares similarities in terms of ethnic groups and political history with other states in the southeast.
They said the birth of Anioma State would promote zonal equity and address the marginalization of the southeast zone.
“The creation of Anioma State is considered a just and strategic means to address the agitation in the southeast and promote unity in the region. The OYC calls on the proponents of Orlu and Etiti States to withdraw their bills and support Dist. Sen. Ned Nwoko in the realization of Anioma State. The council also appeals to Igbo political leaders, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to rally support for the creation of Anioma State,” the OYC said, emphasizing that anyone pushing for the creation of Orlu or Etiti State without the mandate and support of the Igbo youths and Ndigbo is an enemy to the southern Nigeria and the southeast region.
The council appeals to all patriotic members of the National Assembly, as well as individuals from the North, Middle Belt, Southwest, and South-South, to view the creation of Anioma State as a regional political balance and national equity.
“The creation of Anioma State would contribute to calming the agitation in the southeast and fostering peaceful coexistence,” the group added.
The Anambra Government has imposed a one-month sanction on Blossom Fount School, Awka, for allegedly selling the position of head prefect during a student election.
This was disclosed in a statement on Saturday by the Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh.
According to the commissioner, the school reportedly demanded N5,000 from each pupil aspiring to become head prefect in the primary section.
Chuma-Udeh condemned the act, describing it as an attempt to “sell the psyche of the children to the highest bidder from the cradle.”
According to her, such practices are unacceptable under the administration of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo.
She said that an investigation was ongoing to examine the school’s broader management practices, with the possibility of further actions based on the findings.
Former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has criticised the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the arrest and continued detention of former House of Representatives member, Muhammad Kazaure, describing it as a violation of due process.
In a statement shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) account on Saturday, Atiku said Kazaure’s detention reflects a brazen disregard for the rule of law, accusing the anti-graft agency of operating beyond the limits of the Nigerian Constitution.
Atiku alleged that the EFCC is increasingly becoming a tool for political repression, citing what he called a troubling pattern of lawlessness under the current administration.
He said, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has once again plunged headlong into its well-worn pattern of lawlessness, arresting and detaining citizens with brazen disregard for due process and without offering any justification for its actions.”
Atiku also referenced the recent arrest of social commentator Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan, whose release followed intense public pressure. He suggested that Kazaure’s case fits into a broader trend of state institutions being used to silence dissenting voices.
“We witnessed this same abuse in the unlawful arrest and detention of Mr. Martins Vincent Otse, widely known as VeryDarkMan, whose release was only secured after massive public outrage and pressure.
“Now, the EFCC has targeted Hon. Muhammad Kazaure, a former member of the House of Representatives and an unapologetic critic of the gross misgovernance and failings of the Tinubu administration.
“Abducted in Kano and whisked away to Abuja, Kazaure is presently being held incommunicado, with no formal charge or explanation offered to his family, legal team, or the Nigerian people.
“Let it be stated without equivocation: even if there were legitimate grounds for arresting any citizen, such action must adhere strictly to the rule of law. The EFCC is duty-bound to publicly disclose the reasons for any arrest and must not detain individuals indefinitely under the guise of investigation.
“The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is unequivocal on this matter—every detainee must be promptly charged to court or released. By once again trampling on the fundamental rights of a Nigerian citizen, the EFCC is entrenching itself deeper into the mire of impunity and constitutional delinquency.
“It’s deafening silence regarding the arrest of Hon. Kazaure, a man who represented the good people of Kazaure, Roni, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi federal constituency, lays bare the agency’s contempt for transparency and justice.
Suspended Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, has ignited social media buzz after posting a 15-second TikTok video set to the trending song Omo Ologo — a track closely linked with President Bola Tinubu.
The video, shared on her TikTok page on May 8, shows the embattled lawmaker smiling and playfully interacting with the camera. Captioned, “Just for fun, song choked,” the post has drawn mixed reactions online, with some interpreting it as a light-hearted moment, while others suspect a deeper political undertone.
The video comes just days after the song Omo Ologo was performed live by Kano-based singer Dauda Kahutu Rarara during a dinner in Katsina State held in honour of President Tinubu, who was on a two-day working visit to assess security in the region.
The song, which blends Hausa and Yoruba, praises Tinubu as a victorious leader who has outlasted his critics.
Akpoti-Uduaghan’s TikTok post follows a series of dramatic exchanges between her and Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
The senator was suspended from the upper legislative chamber in March after accusing Akpabio of sexual harassment — an allegation that triggered heated debate in the National Assembly.
In what appeared to be a bold response to her suspension, Akpoti-Uduaghan recently posted a sarcastic apology video to Akpabio on Facebook, in which she claimed she was sorry “for the crime of maintaining dignity and self-respect.”
The post was accompanied by a short video, further fueling controversy.
Akpabio’s legal team has since approached a federal high court in Abuja, seeking an order compelling the senator to delete the post from her social media pages.
In a counter-affidavit filed by her lawyer, Jubril Okutepa (SAN), Akpoti-Uduaghan’s camp described the motion as an attempt to silence and intimidate her.
The court is expected to rule on the matter on May 12.