Don’t politicise attack on me – Gov Ortom tells Nigerians

 

Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has urged Nigerians not to politicise the recent armed attack on him by suspected militia herdsmen but treat it on the merit of the insecurity bedeviling the country.

Governor Ortom who briefed journalists on Monday at the Benue Peoples House Makurdi after an emergency security council meeting said everyone is part of the fight against insecurity and the earlier people treat security issues on its merit, the better.

He stated that the security council had reviewed the situation and decided that government would provide the political will while security agencies work assiduously to unmasked those behind the attack on the Governor last Saturday.

The Governor appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for ordering an investigation into the attack and various leaders in the country across political divides as well as traditional rulers and the clergy for showing solidarity with him since the incident occurred.

He reiterated his call on the Federal Government and security agencies to arrest and prosecute the leadership of Fulani Nationality Movement, FUNAM and Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore for suspected complicity in various attacks in parts of the country.

Governor Ortom while also appreciating the Inspector General of Police for drafting a team to Benue to investigate the attack noted that his concern is to ensure justice, equity and fairness for all Nigerians.

The Governor rose from the security council meeting to address coalition of Benue Sociocultural Youth Organisations who protested to the Benue Peoples House to show solidarity with him on the recent attack.

Leaders of the various sociocultural youth groups as well as National Union of Benue Students, all pledged their support for the Governor, saying they would mobilise to protect the Governor if security agencies fail to perform their duties.

The youth groups warned that nobody has monopoly of violence in the country, adding that they cannot fold their hands and watch external aggressors takeover their land under the guise of open grazing.

wife was caught in bed with our church member”- Man tells court

 

A Mapo Customary Court in Ibadan on Monday dissolved the 21-year-old marriage between a businesswoman, Adewumi Pius and her husband, Emmanuel, over infidelity and irreconcilable issues.

NAN reports that Emmanuel told the court that his wife left their home because his mother caught her in bed with a church member.

He also tendered receipts while refuting allegations that he failed to pay his children’s school fees.

 

Adewumi in her response alleged that her husband has refused to take charge and be responsible for his family’s upkeep.

She also said her husband was fond of spreading lies about her adding that he turned her into a punching bag.

“My husband refused to pay the children’s school fees. Because of that, my children stopped going to school.

”Emmanuel turned me to his punching bag. He is fond of spreading lies about me, that he caught me in bed with another man,” she said.

 

Delivering judgment, the President of the Court, Chief Ademola Odunade said the divorce was granted in the interest of peace.

Odunade granted custody of the children to Adewumi and ordered Emmanuel to pay N12, 000 as monthly upkeep

Oduduwa Republic. Don’t drag Yoruba into war – Bamgbose warns agitators

 

Olusegun Bamgbose, Esq., National Coordinator, Concerned Advocates for Good Governance, CAGG, has warned those agitating for Oduduwa Republic not to drag Yoruba race into unprofitable war.

He also cautioned the Yorubas not to allow any individual or group to drag them into war or disrepute, adding that the quest for Oduduwa Republic should be jettisoned.

The senior lawyer noted that this agitation, which according to him, is worrisome, is obviously due to the insecurity in the country and President Muhammadu Buhari’s failure to address it headlong.

Bamgbose said he will never support any form of secession, and seriously warned those agitating for Oduduwa Republic to perish the idea, “because it won’t work.”

“Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo was thrice a major contender for the highest office in Nigeria, he failed, but at no time, in his lifetime, did he advocate for Oduduwa Republic. When he lost in 1983, he still never advocated secretly or publicly any form of secession,” Bamgbose said in a chat with

“I wonder what the agitators know about Nigeria, that Awolowo never knew. What have the agitators experienced that Awolowo never experienced? He was unlawfully jailed, humiliated, deprived, but he never in any way tampered with the unity of Nigeria.

“One will want to know how old these agitators were in 1960? How old were they in 1967 when the civil war broke out? Many of them were not even born by then. Are the agitators claiming to be more informed that late Chief Obafemi Awolowo?

“Yoruba race should not be dragged into unprofitable war. Our people use to say, ‘Ori bibe ko ni ogun ori fifo, (the solution to headache is not to behead yourself) Our unity is sacrosanct, it is never negotiable.

“Anyone or group advocating for Oduduwa Republic doesn’tdoesnt really understand the dynamics of Yoruba race. My Presidential ambition will never make me not to speak the truth.

“I am proud to be a Nigerian. I’ve always told my supporters that I am determined to be the next President of Nigeria, but I’m never desperate. There are options to advocating for Oduduwa Republic. I want to urge all Yorubas never to support any form of secession.

“It is an ill wind which will blow no one any good. We should not allow anyone to drag us into war or disrepute. The quest for Oduduwa Republic should be jettisoned.

“We must not allow the labour of our heroes past to go down the drain. Nigeria is better as one entity no matter our challenges.

“We should not allow our present challenges to destroy our future. We have a very bright future as a united nation. We should rather concentrate on ensuring that a highly detribalised person takes over from Buhari come 2023.”

Freedom is coming soon, and nothing can stop it. Yoruba must all unite to grab this opportunity,

 

Senior pastor of Awaiting The Second Coming Of Christ Ministry, Adewale Giwa has urged the people of the Southwest region to get ready for their freedom.

The cleric, who reiterated this while addressing his members in Akure on Sunday, said nothing can stop Yoruba from getting to its destination.

He, however, advised the agitators to put God first in all things and urged them to build Yoruba nation on the solid rock.

Giwa noted that part of the reasons nothing works in Nigeria was because the country was established in a crafty manner.

“Let me urge the agitators to be transparent and truthful. Above all, they should put God first in all things.

“As it is, nothing can stop the freedom of the Yoruba ethic group. However, Oduduwa Republic should not be like Nigeria that was created in a crafty manner.

“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do? They created Nigeria on deceit and nobody knows the meaning of that name, Nigeria.

“Yoruba leaders must give their people equal rights, solid constitution. They should be ready to serve the people not to serve themselves.

“Freedom is coming soon, and nothing can stop it. Yoruba must all unite to grab this opportunity,” he stated.

 

FUNAM, Oduduwa, IPOB, others, championing Nigeria’s breakup

 

So, I will call on the government and its agencies saddled with intelligence and security to look more closely into the activities of the groups, including the Fulani Nationalist Movement. Failure to do so will obviously be catastrophic. We must nip the growing agitations in the bud and control the upsurge in ethnic based groups that may with time become ethnic militia groups, he said.

The attack on the convoy of Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom has continued to generate discussions, reactions and anger in some quarters, with accusing fingers being pointed and denials being made by those so accused.

It is understandable that such a brazen attempt will solicit different reactions, especially anger propelled by fear, with many Nigerians believing that if a sitting governor, with a retinue of security details could narrowly escape being killed in broad daylight, no one then is safe in the country.

However, a Fulani group, hitherto unknown, the Fulani Nationality Movement (FUNAM) has reportedly claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group, in a report by an online news platform, said in a statement signed by one Umar Amir Shehu that they attacked Ortom in an action carried out on behalf of millions of Fulani people in 15 countries.

“Our attention has been drawn to media reports today speculating about who attacked the Governor of Benue State, Samuel Ortom.

 

“Yes. Yes We did. The Fulani Nationality Movement, ( FUNAM) carried out the attack. We have genuine reasons. We acted on behalf of Millions of Fulani people in 15 countries.

“It’s a case of vengeance against an infidel who has used his time and money, deployed in destroying the Fulani values and inheritance.

“Our courageous fighters carried out this historic attack to send a great message to Ortom and his collaborators: Wherever you are, once you are against Fulani long term interest, we shall get you down. This is a clear warning. We hope those who take us for granted will get the indisputable message.

“Our intention is unequivocal: TO KILL HIM. That mission will one day be fulfilled and very soon too.

“Eleven of FUNAM operatives were involved in the attack. Orton escaped today because of a slight technical communication error. Next time, he will not be lucky. We can assure him and his supporters.

“Ortom has been leading the campaign against Fulani interests in the North. We have our operatives in all Southern States. Each will face our sword soon.

“We warn collaborators working against Fulani people across Nigeria: WE SHALL GET YOU irrespective of your hidden place.

 

“We state clearly, any state or individual that opposes RUGA will be confronted. Any State or individual that opposes ranching, we shall get you. Speak against ranching and RUGA even on the internet: Our Noiseless fighters shall find and fix you.

“In the next few months, FUNAM will carry out attacks on strategic human and material assets of States and Non State groups or individuals known for their anti-Fulani campaigns.

“We shall hunt you down in your houses, in your work places, in your car, in your streets. It’s a matter of time.”

With this statement, a new chapter of agitations and contradictions the nation has not witnessed in time past was opened, albeit in a more scary way. 

Though many are tempted to wave off FUNAM as a faceless group that is merely looking for attention, analysts are quick to say that the groups that are today making things difficult for the country in different parts started the same way from

 obscurity, with people writing them off as attention seekers.

 

Though it is yet uncertain if FUNAM actually exists, it is worthy of note that the group is not speaking for the first time, as it triggered national outrage in 2018 when it claimed that Fulani are the owners of Nigeria.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, who at that time doubted the existence of the group, disowned the statement, labeling it as reckless.

Also in February 2020, the President of the group, one Badu Salisu Ahmadu claimed that a special Fulani strike force was behind the killing of 23 people in Plateau State in late January, 2020.

Mr. Adekoya Samuel, a public affairs commentator, believes that FUNAM is not really a new group but one that may be described as shadowy, lurking in the corner to take advantage of situations and dance momentarily in the sun before withdrawing into a corner.

“I will not say the group does not exist, I will rather ask, how does it exist? On paper and in press releases? FUNAM, to me, is just another faceless group that exists in the mind of an individual who mischievously comes in occasionally, throws in a press release to rock the boat and cause some apprehension. That’s what I believe is happening here.

“I see no reason for apprehension over the sweeping threats in the supposed group’s statement. What is the capacity of a group that has not proven in the past that it truly exists? I think the writer of the press statement was only bluffing and nothing more. No one should lose sleep over it”, Samuel said.

 

Speaking further, Samuel noted that though it is becoming alarming the rate at which sectional and ethnic based groups are springing up from different parts of the country, the existence of Nigeria is not under threat.

“Nigeria is not about to break and it will not despite the threat posed by ethnic based groups threatening secession. Neither IPOB, MASSOB or Oduduwa Republic proponents have the capacity to carry out their threats. Those threats have always been there and nothing has happened. FUNAM cannot make any difference”, he submitted.

Chigozie Ibe, a Lagos babes businessman, however, thinks differently, warning that Nigerians should not dismiss the claim of responsibility by the Fulami or their threats of further attacks lightly. According to him, FUNAM may just be the face of a larger Fulani organisation with sinister plans.

“To start with, Governor Ortom said those who attacked him were herdsmen, dressed in black, while Miyetti Allah has come out to deny any involvement in the attack. Then this Fulani group came out to say its operatives were responsible. For me, until security agencies conclude their investigation and come out with a different conclusion, I take it that FUNAM was behind the attack.

“A major problem Nigeria has is that we are quick to dismiss things even before we dig into them. What if the group is real and they actually carried out the attack on Ortom and do have the capacity to make good their threat? We would have succeeded in looking the other way carelessly while they go about hitting their targets without resistance”, Ibe said.

On whether the ethnic-based group posed any threat to Nigeria, Ibe said they do and that Nigeria may just be heading for the rocks if issues of concern being raised were ignored.

“The Nigerian government and critical stakeholders and leaders must not ignore what is currently happening in the country. Doing so will be at the nation’s peril. Most times, government tend to look at these agitators as irritants it cannot be bordered with, but they have forgotten the possibility of propelling them from behind the scene. Many of these groups have their backers, people who are the main drivers of the ideas these groups are pushing.

“Events of the last couple of days have shown that clearly, first with a group of Yoruba elders saying they can no longer hold back Yoruba youths on self determination. Also just at the weekend, the Yoruba Sociocultural group, Afenifere was emphatic when they said Nigeria’s disintegration is inevitable if the government fails to agree to restructuring. So it would be foolhardy to treat the threats of disintegration with levity, except the government has accepted that everyone go his way,” he noted.

Another respondent, who wants to remain anonymous, blamed the Nigerian government and the nation’s security and intelligence agencies for the level the agitations and threats have gotten to in the country. According to him, the government and its security and intelligence agencies have given these people the opportunity to fester their ideas to the point that many Nigerians now reason in line with Biafra and Oduduwa Republic.

“To start with, Asari Dokubo came out to declare the establishment of a government within Nigeria and nothing has been done about it till now. The only response that has come from the government was that from Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture. Even at that, he failed to accord the obvious breach the seriousness it deserves.

“What Asari did is obviously treasonable, and not a joke or publicity stunt as labelled by Lai Mohammed. Also, the declaration by Sunday Igboho is another sour point that has not been attended to. Both Igboho, who declared 

 that the Yoruba are no longer part of Nigeria and Asari should be undergoing serious interrogation at the moment. It does not matter if they were merely bluffing, letting them roam around freely is dangerous, as the more they propagate their divisive ideas, the more ground it gains and the more chances of them becoming real.

Terrorists attempted to harm Sunday Igboho’s mother – Fani-Kayode

 

Igboho disclosed that two terrorists’ attempt to allegedly harm his mother in her residence in Oyo State was foiled.

Yoruba activist, Sunday Adeyemi, popularly known as Sunday Igboho has alleged plot by terrorists to attack his mother.

He claimed that while one of the terrorists was arrested, the other escaped.

This was disclosed by Femi Fani-Kayode, former Aviation Minister, via his Twitter handle.

“I just spoke to Sunday Igboho and he told me that two terrorists were apprehended in his mother’s home in Igboho, Oyo state this evening.

“Their mission was to harm Mama. One of them escaped whilst the other is now in police custody. This is a dangerous course to tread. Think twice!,” he tweeted.

Goggle box sparks Ofcom complaints after cast watched Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah

 

Goggle box viewers have complained to Ofcom after a series of remarks were made on the programme.

Some fans tuning in to the Channel 4 show last Friday (March 12) were left offended by what the cast had to say about Meghan and Harry's bombshell interview with Oprah.

The episode was eagerly awaited by fans following the dramatic aftermath of the interview, which saw Piers Morgan quitting as Good Morning Britain presenter following a row over the Duchess of Sussex's claims.

But some of the Gogglebox cast may have stepped too far,

Ofcom received 51 complaints regarding the remarks by those on the show.

It's not clear which of the cast caused offence, but they weren't shy in sharing their opinions of the explosive interview.

Sophie Sandiford from Blackpool commented on claims by Prince Harry that senior royals suggested Meghan should start acting again to cover their lost security costs.

She joked: "Stick her in the gift shop while you're at it. You know, 30 hours a week in the gift shop - that should cover her funds.

Lee Riley, reacting to Meghan telling Oprah that people can understand her time at the palace because of lockdown, said: "I weren't in a f**king 14-bedroom f**king castle."

Referring to the racist claims, Pete Sandiford said: "I mean, this is going to have massive ramifications now for the Royal Family because our perception of them is changing."

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Meghan and Harry's interview with Oprah, which was aired by ITV on March 8, has already caused a huge fallout.

Piers Morgan's rant about Meghan on Good Morning Britain was revealed to have taken the top spot for the most complained about TV moment ever on Wednesday (March 17).

57,000 complaints had then been lodged over the dramatic outburst on Good Morning Britain which saw Piers quit.

That had risen from 41,000.

An Ofcom spokesperson said: "We can confirm that this issue has attracted the highest number of complaints since our reporting began."