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Group Urges PMB to Rebuild Communities Wrecked by Herdsmen- Farmers Crises, Not Ruga.

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A non- profit organization, the Greater Restoration Initiative (GRI), has condemned what it called the land grab initiative by the federal government in the name of building Ruga or Fulani settler communities in all the 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT with tax payers money.

The group wondered why the pilot phase which would be implemented in 12 states has “surreptitiously” commenced without consultation with the states or local communities concerned.

“We note the latent deceit laced in the policy, which is why the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development refused to brief the country before it commenced implementation of the so-called National Lifestock Transformation Plan being supervised by the Office of the Vice President.

“We note the Vice President’s disclaimer on the Ruga initiative. He however wasn’t enough to explain who is supervising it and why?” GRI said in a statement in Abuja signed by its leader, Mr James Mozeh.

The Ruga policy, it noted was criminal as it violated the Land Use Act which spelt out unambiguously where the control of land resource is vested. It also violates the foundamental human rights of the locals who traditionally own those lands, as the state governments only hold the land in trust for them as per the Land Use Act. It’s disheartening that the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, a Professor of Law, who recommended the Ruga has decided to protect his political career rather than speak for the truth and the rule of law.

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“It’s also becoming increasingly worrisome that President Buhari who prides himself as Mr. intergrity will supervise and endorse illegality just because his kinsmen are the beneficiaries. Indeed posterity has an unkind place for nepotic and ethnic irredentist leaders.

“It is disheartening that in excess 500,000 Benue citizens and millions across the country, are displaced and living in unhabitable temporal shelters without any significant support from the federal government. Rather than resettle them, the president is more concerned about building homes for his kinsmen across the country.”

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According to the group, the law – abiding sedentary farmers had suffered several attacks from Fulani herders who now occupy some of their ancestral lands.

GRI also recall that during the Vice President’s visit to Benue state at the wake of sustained Fulani herdsmen attacks on Benue, Taraba, Nasarawa and Kogi states villages, he promised the FG will provide N10bn in support to the affected communities to enable them rebuild their communities and return to their lives. Till date, nothing has been done about it and the federal government hasn’t helped any community rebuild. Yet the FG has set aside over N2.26 billion in tax payers money to forcefully build settlements for Fulani herders. Are the Fulanis more Nigerian than the rest over 400 tribes in Nigeria?

“We at GRI completely oppose the Ruga policy, we oppose the cattle colony, grazing route or grazing reserve initiatives. They are not only archaic but will further deepen the crisis that has already claimed thousands of lives across the country. Should the government forcefully choose to implement this anti-native settlers policies, the president should know he will be held responsible for any unrest associated with it,” the statement said.

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Abdulrahman Obaje
Abdulrahman Obaje
Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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Organ Trafficking: Ekweremadu, Wife, Doctor Sentenced To Various Prison Terms

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The duo of Ekweremadu, former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, his wife Beatrice, and Doctor Obinna Obeta has been senenced to various jail terms for bringing a 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney.

A judge at The Central Criminal Court, [ Old Bailey], announced the sentence friday.

At a sentencing hearing on Friday, Ekweremadu was jailed for nine years and eight months, his wife Beatrice was sentenced to four years and six months imprisonment while Obeta received a 10-year prison term.

The sentencing follows their conviction in March for organ trafficking, The Ekweremadus’sick daughter, Sonia was cleared of any wrongdoing.

1rem;">The three were found guilty after arranging or facilitating a young Nigerian man’s travel into the United Kingdom in a bid to obtain his kidney on behalf of Sonia.
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The jury said Ekweremadu, his wife and their doctor criminally conspired to bring the 21-year-old Lagos street trader to London to exploit him for his kidney.

The conviction is the first under the UK’s Modern Slavery Act 2015.

The sentencing comes after pleas from multiple prominent personalities and institutions, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

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Other petitioners included both chambers of the National Assembly, the Chairman/CEO, Nigeria in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), Abike Erewa Dabiri, and the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC).

The charges were preferred on the Ekweremadus on June 23, 2022, when their arrest was announced. Obeta was later arraigned on July 13, 2022. While his wife was granted bail, the senator was refused.

After months of a pre-trial, the trial commenced on January 31, 2023 and lasted about six weeks, culminating in a guilty verdict against Ekweremadu, Beatrice, and Obeta.

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Reps Seek UK Government Clemency for Ekweremadu

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The House of Representatives  has write to the government of the United Kingdom seeking mercy in sentencing the embattled Ike Ekweremadu and his wife, Beatrice.

This is contained in a resolution reached following a motion moved by Toby Okechukwu, a lawmaker from Enugu State.

A UK court found the duo guilty of conspiracy of organ harvesting of another Nigerian. The Ekweremadu couple will be sentenced in the coming days.

Moving the motion, Okechukwu said diplomatic intervention in this kind of case is normal.

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“It is a common practice in international relations for nations, including the UK, to seek relief for their citizens involved in situations such as that of the Ekweremadus,” he said.

Speaking on the motion, Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House, said intervention by the House is not a justification for the charges against the Ekweremadus. He urged the UK government to consider Ekweremadu’s years of public service.

Consequently, the House resolved to urge the UK government and the court to temper justice with mercy in sentencing Ekweremadu, his wife and the doctor.

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Also, they urged the Federal Government of Nigeria to take all diplomatic steps and other necessary interventions regarding the travails of the Ekweremadu family.

Author Profile

Abdulrahman Obaje
Abdulrahman Obaje
Prince Abdulrahman Obaje is a Media and ICT Consultant, Journalist, online marketer, social media strategist, Mathematician and Computer Scientist based in Abuja, Nigeria. He is the Founder and the Publisher of The Informavores!. You can reach me on +234 805 939 5252 or send i-witness report directly to me on news@informavores.com.ng.
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HYPPDEC Donates Food Stuff, Clothing to Locals in Kogi to Tackle Cashless Policy Effect

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By Joseph Amedu, Lokoja

The Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPDEC), on Tuesday, donated 400 bags of rice, 250 gallons of vegetable oil and some packaged women rappers to ten Local Government Areas in Kogi State under the agency to cushion the effect associated with the new cashless policy.

Making the presentation to Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State at the Lugard House, Lokoja on Tuesday, a Board Member of HYPPDEC, Alhaji Isah Ozi Salami, said that the gesture is part of the agency’s intervention in times of natural disaster or any hardship situation on citizens.

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Salami expressed the commitment of HYPPDEC in tackling the prevailing economic hardship on Nigerians as a result of the Cashless Policy.

“We owe it as a duty to take adquate care of the people in the 10 Local Government Areas belonging to HYPPDEC communities in Kogi

“Our concern under the present economic hardship is to alleviate the sufferings of the people within HYPPDEC communities in Kogi” Ozi Salami told Governor Bello.

He commended Governor Yahaya Bello for the provision of logistic supports that have facilitated smooth operation of the agency in Kogi.

He also told the Governor that HYPPDEC will soon begin the construction of 50 housing units in Kogi for resettlement of last year’s flood victims in riverine communities.

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“I appreciate Governor Bello’s magnanimity in providing land for the housing project. The Governor is expected to perform the foundation laying ceremony of the project” Ozi Salami disclosed.

The Chief of Staff to Governor Bello, Jamiu Asuku who received the food stuff on behalf of his boss, hinted that Kogi will key into HYPPDEC’s intervention initiative in the areas of provision of food and security of lives and property for citizens.

Governor Yahaya Bello appealed to HYPPDEC to focus more on Ibaji Local Government Area in its intervention programme as a result of the bad terrain of the area.

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