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EU leaders are still struggling to reach a deal on a recovery fund, with deep differences remaining.

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The country is the second largest film market in the world after the US, with a box office of $9.2bn in 2019.

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They say their system could have given 16 hours advance warning of the deadly White Island eruption of 2019.

As Nigeria joined the global community to mark the 2020 Nelson Mandela Day, the National Human Rights Commission has called on the Nigerian Government, civil society organisations to do more in ensuring equality and social justice for Nigerians especially at this time of COVID-19.

Executive Secretary of the commission,  Tony Ojukwu, gave this charge in Abuja over the weekend on the commemoration of the annual event. 

He said Nigerians should make renewed commitment to uphold the legacies of Mandela, who fought for the promotion and protection of human rights.

He said, "This could be done through direct investment and commitment to enforce diversity by ensuring bold action in creating opportunity at all levels across all the sectors of the society.

"There is still more to be done to drastically reduce the number of awaiting trial inmates whose number outweighs the number of convicted prisoners in our country. 

"This goes to tell that the services in our prisons are overstretched thus posing a question of compliance with the Mandela Rules to which Nigeria is a signatory.” 

Ojukwu emphasised fairness and adherence to the principle of social justice in providing such opportunities, which according to him will go a long way in eradicating poverty among people in the rural areas.

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Six people including a female police officer and her daughter have been abducted by suspected bandits, who invaded Janruwa area along Patrick Yakowa Way in Kaduna metropolis.

SaharaReporters gathered that the incident took place around 10:00pm on Saturday.

Residents said the gunmen shot sporadically when they stormed Janruwa and made away with the six captives after raiding four houses. 

“It was a commando-like adventure. They (bandits) stormed our community around past 10:00pm and raided four houses, kidnapped six people, including a woman, two young female teenagers, two young men and a grown up man.

“They picked most of the victims through the windows. After destroying the windows and removing the burglar proof, they ordered their victims out of the house. 

“There was nothing anybody in the community could do to challenge them because they were armed.

“The victims had no option than to follow the attackers politely as they risked being killed if they don’t obey the bandits.

“The only woman among those kidnapped was the police officer. When they attempted to break into her house, she ran out, not knowing that the bandits were many outside. As she ran out to escape, those waiting outside her house, just picked her.
“Her teenage daughter was also taken as she tried to escape,” one of the residents said.

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A human rights lawyer, Kabir Akingbolu, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate and prosecute Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, for corruption and abuse of office.

Akingbolu in a letter to the President advised him to take the action if his government was serious about the fight against corruption. 

According to the lawyer, Malami in 2018 despite the fact that various lawyers had worked and completed all modalities to recover the Abacha loot from the United States, ensured the removal of over $16m under the bogus concept of 10 per cent commission for himself through his cronies.

Akingbolu said, “Everybody in Nigeria cried as much as the U.S Attorney who acted on behalf of Nigeria in respect of the money, on the ground the job was already completed and no lawyer needed to do anything again to justify the commission, but our A.G.F turned a deaf hear and took the money.

AGF Malami

“In 2019, Malami discontinued a N25bn criminal charge against Senator Danjuma Goje without any justification. In June 2020, Malami withdrew criminal charges against killer soldiers who were charged along with Wadume, a dreaded kidnapper and an armed robber. 

"Continuous act of giving reckless advice to the Federal Government to disobey court orders, which necessitated the abnormal detention of Omoyele Sowore, El-Zakzaky, Sambo Dasuki and a host of others, after competent courts have ordered their release which acts he unfortunately defended vehemently before the Senate when he went for his second screening as a minister designate.

“He also allegedly owns the underlisted properties: He owns a multimillion naira sprawling building Rayhaan Hotels worth about N500m located opposite Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Zaria Road, Kano State. Another property worth about N600m located at Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano. A newly constructed school located at the back of Nitel at Gesse Phase 1, Birni Kebbi worth about N700m.
viii. A multimillion naira property built by Mr Malami for his son located at Gesse Phase II in Birni Kabbi worth over N400m.

“A mansion known as Azbir Arena built by Mr Malami for his second son, Azbir located 200 metres away from Malami brother’s mansion. Azbir Arena an entertainment Centre worth over N3bn, with a big plaza and a kids playing centre and Hotel all combined in one expansive property. Malami used the official letter head of the Federal Ministry of Justice to invite guests to his son’s wedding as if it was a state sponsored event. He aided his son at his wedding party reception to deface the naira to embarrass the nation and this act is against section 21(1) and (3) of the Central Bank Act, 2007, which provides: A person who tempered with a coins or notes issued by the Bank is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than six month or to a fine not less than N50,000 or both such fine and imprisonment

“For the avoidance of the doubt, spraying of, dancing or matching on the naira or any note issued by the bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under sub-section (1) of this section. He allowed COVID-19 protocol and regulations to be breached at his son’s wedding as if he was above the law thereby putting the lives of Nigerians at risk. Please note that in Ghana recently, a minister lost his position because he breached Covid19 protocols.”

The lawyer also said he might file a mandamus to compel Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector-General of Police, to perform his statutory duties if the government refuses to probe the AGF.

“Thus, if this government decided to keep mum by treating Mr Malami with kid gloves or a sacred cow, the government should forget its anti-corruption war song and stop deceiving Nigerians and the whole world.
I hereby unequivocally request, on behalf of Nigerians, that Your Excellency should suspend Mr Malami with immediate effect and order his probe, either by a special panel or by the police.

“If, however, the government fails to do this within 14 days, I shall not hesitate to forward a petition to various relevant international agencies and other civil society organisations that this government only pays a lip service to corruption fighting in Nigeria. I have copied the Inspector-General of Police and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption this letter for their attention.

“If, however, you fail, neglect or refuse to meet this subtle demand, I shall then be left with no option to file for
mandamus to compel the Inspector-General of Police to perform its statutory duties to investigate these corrupt practices and all these may embarrass the government not only in Nigeria but globally."

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A human rights lawyer, Kabir Akingbolu, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate and prosecute Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, for corruption and abuse of office.

Akingbolu in a letter to the President advised him to take the action if his government was serious about the fight against corruption. 

According to the lawyer, Malami in 2018 despite the fact that various lawyers had worked and completed all modalities to recover the Abacha loot from the United States, ensured the removal of over $16m under the bogus concept of 10 per cent commission for himself through his cronies.

Akingbolu said, “Everybody in Nigeria cried as much as the U.S Attorney who acted on behalf of Nigeria in respect of the money, on the ground the job was already completed and no lawyer needed to do anything again to justify the commission, but our A.G.F turned a deaf hear and took the money.

AGF Malami

“In 2019, Malami discontinued a N25bn criminal charge against Senator Danjuma Goje without any justification. In June 2020, Malami withdrew criminal charges against killer soldiers who were charged along with Wadume, a dreaded kidnapper and an armed robber. 

"Continuous act of giving reckless advice to the Federal Government to disobey court orders, which necessitated the abnormal detention of Omoyele Sowore, El-Zakzaky, Sambo Dasuki and a host of others, after competent courts have ordered their release which acts he unfortunately defended vehemently before the Senate when he went for his second screening as a minister designate.

“He also allegedly owns the underlisted properties: He owns a multimillion naira sprawling building Rayhaan Hotels worth about N500m located opposite Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Zaria Road, Kano State. Another property worth about N600m located at Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano. A newly constructed school located at the back of Nitel at Gesse Phase 1, Birni Kebbi worth about N700m.
viii. A multimillion naira property built by Mr Malami for his son located at Gesse Phase II in Birni Kabbi worth over N400m.

“A mansion known as Azbir Arena built by Mr Malami for his second son, Azbir located 200 metres away from Malami brother’s mansion. Azbir Arena an entertainment Centre worth over N3bn, with a big plaza and a kids playing centre and Hotel all combined in one expansive property. Malami used the official letter head of the Federal Ministry of Justice to invite guests to his son’s wedding as if it was a state sponsored event. He aided his son at his wedding party reception to deface the naira to embarrass the nation and this act is against section 21(1) and (3) of the Central Bank Act, 2007, which provides: A person who tempered with a coins or notes issued by the Bank is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than six month or to a fine not less than N50,000 or both such fine and imprisonment

“For the avoidance of the doubt, spraying of, dancing or matching on the naira or any note issued by the bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under sub-section (1) of this section. He allowed COVID-19 protocol and regulations to be breached at his son’s wedding as if he was above the law thereby putting the lives of Nigerians at risk. Please note that in Ghana recently, a minister lost his position because he breached Covid19 protocols.”

The lawyer also said he might file a mandamus to compel Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector-General of Police, to perform his statutory duties if the government refuses to probe the AGF.

“Thus, if this government decided to keep mum by treating Mr Malami with kid gloves or a sacred cow, the government should forget its anti-corruption war song and stop deceiving Nigerians and the whole world.
I hereby unequivocally request, on behalf of Nigerians, that Your Excellency should suspend Mr Malami with immediate effect and order his probe, either by a special panel or by the police.

“If, however, the government fails to do this within 14 days, I shall not hesitate to forward a petition to various relevant international agencies and other civil society organisations that this government only pays a lip service to corruption fighting in Nigeria. I have copied the Inspector-General of Police and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption this letter for their attention.

“If, however, you fail, neglect or refuse to meet this subtle demand, I shall then be left with no option to file for
mandamus to compel the Inspector-General of Police to perform its statutory duties to investigate these corrupt practices and all these may embarrass the government not only in Nigeria but globally."

Corruption Legal Politics Scandal News AddThis :  Original Author :  SaharaReporters, New York Disable advertisements : 
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A human rights lawyer, Kabir Akingbolu, has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate and prosecute Abubakar Malami, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, for corruption and abuse of office.

Akingbolu in a letter to the President advised him to take the action if his government was serious about the fight against corruption. 

According to the lawyer, Malami in 2018 despite the fact that various lawyers had worked and completed all modalities to recover the Abacha loot from the United States, ensured the removal of over $16m under the bogus concept of 10 per cent commission for himself through his cronies.

Akingbolu said, “Everybody in Nigeria cried as much as the U.S Attorney who acted on behalf of Nigeria in respect of the money, on the ground the job was already completed and no lawyer needed to do anything again to justify the commission, but our A.G.F turned a deaf hear and took the money.

AGF Malami

“In 2019, Malami discontinued a N25bn criminal charge against Senator Danjuma Goje without any justification. In June 2020, Malami withdrew criminal charges against killer soldiers who were charged along with Wadume, a dreaded kidnapper and an armed robber. 

"Continuous act of giving reckless advice to the Federal Government to disobey court orders, which necessitated the abnormal detention of Omoyele Sowore, El-Zakzaky, Sambo Dasuki and a host of others, after competent courts have ordered their release which acts he unfortunately defended vehemently before the Senate when he went for his second screening as a minister designate.

“He also allegedly owns the underlisted properties: He owns a multimillion naira sprawling building Rayhaan Hotels worth about N500m located opposite Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Zaria Road, Kano State. Another property worth about N600m located at Ahmadu Bello Way, Nasarawa GRA, Kano. A newly constructed school located at the back of Nitel at Gesse Phase 1, Birni Kebbi worth about N700m.
viii. A multimillion naira property built by Mr Malami for his son located at Gesse Phase II in Birni Kabbi worth over N400m.

“A mansion known as Azbir Arena built by Mr Malami for his second son, Azbir located 200 metres away from Malami brother’s mansion. Azbir Arena an entertainment Centre worth over N3bn, with a big plaza and a kids playing centre and Hotel all combined in one expansive property. Malami used the official letter head of the Federal Ministry of Justice to invite guests to his son’s wedding as if it was a state sponsored event. He aided his son at his wedding party reception to deface the naira to embarrass the nation and this act is against section 21(1) and (3) of the Central Bank Act, 2007, which provides: A person who tempered with a coins or notes issued by the Bank is guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not less than six month or to a fine not less than N50,000 or both such fine and imprisonment

“For the avoidance of the doubt, spraying of, dancing or matching on the naira or any note issued by the bank during social occasions or otherwise howsoever shall constitute an abuse and defacing of the Naira or such note and shall be punishable under sub-section (1) of this section. He allowed COVID-19 protocol and regulations to be breached at his son’s wedding as if he was above the law thereby putting the lives of Nigerians at risk. Please note that in Ghana recently, a minister lost his position because he breached Covid19 protocols.”

The lawyer also said he might file a mandamus to compel Mohammed Adamu, the Inspector-General of Police, to perform his statutory duties if the government refuses to probe the AGF.

“Thus, if this government decided to keep mum by treating Mr Malami with kid gloves or a sacred cow, the government should forget its anti-corruption war song and stop deceiving Nigerians and the whole world.
I hereby unequivocally request, on behalf of Nigerians, that Your Excellency should suspend Mr Malami with immediate effect and order his probe, either by a special panel or by the police.

“If, however, the government fails to do this within 14 days, I shall not hesitate to forward a petition to various relevant international agencies and other civil society organisations that this government only pays a lip service to corruption fighting in Nigeria. I have copied the Inspector-General of Police and the Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption this letter for their attention.

“If, however, you fail, neglect or refuse to meet this subtle demand, I shall then be left with no option to file for
mandamus to compel the Inspector-General of Police to perform its statutory duties to investigate these corrupt practices and all these may embarrass the government not only in Nigeria but globally."

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Fans have questioned whether the rapper's last-minute bid for the presidency is genuine.

India police have arrested a Nigerian national (34) from south Delhi’s Tigri neighbourhood on charges of running an online racket that duped unsuspecting people across the country by luring them with hefty cash rewards.

John Effe, alias Simon, was arrested by officers of the cybercrime branch of Kolkata Police’s detective department on July 15 and brought to the city on transit remand.

On Friday, he was sent to police custody till July 28 by the chief metropolitan magistrate at Bankshall Court, Kolkata, HindustanTimes reports. 

Indian Police

“It is a huge racket, and the victims are spread across India. It will take time to find out the details,” said Murlidhar Sharma, joint commissioner of police (crime), Kolkata Police.

Effe was running the racket, which used to send fraudulent WhatsApp messages to unsuspecting people, saying their phone numbers had been selected for a reward of Rs 2.75 crore each, said Sharma.

Recipients of the messages were asked to share their names, addresses and other details through an email address. The information was subsequently used to cheat them.

Effe has been charged under Sections 66C (identity theft) and 66D (cheating by personation by using computer resources) of the Information Technology (IT) Act, 2000, and Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy), 419 (cheating by personation), 420 (cheating).

Others included 465 (forgery), 468 (forgery for cheating), 471 (using as genuine a forged document) and 511 (offences punishable with imprisonment for life or other imprisonments) the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

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Two Nigerian students were allegedly beaten up in Roorkee, Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India, after a disagreement with payment for food at their college canteen.

According to reports, the police have arrested eight people, including the security guards of Roorkee Institute of Technology (RIIT) Bhagwanpur for the violent act.  

The incident occurred on July 15, and the entire incident was posted on social media.  

According to police, a case has been registered against the eight people arrested.

 

Republicworld.com quoted Abhay Singh, CO Manglaur, Haridwar as stating that action would be taken against those who committed the violent act.

Singh added that both victims of the assault had been admitted to the hospital and that they were recovering.

A local shed more light on the issue, saying the beating started after a disagreement with one of the college administrators.

“Students faced problems after they ran out of money. They used to have their meals in the college canteen, but the manager stopped providing food after the students failed to pay. They wanted to go to their friend’s home, but the college administration did not give permission. 

“They stepped out and upon their return, got into a fight with the guard and later the college administration called goons to beat them up. They were badly beaten up, and people recorded videos too,” a local told NDTV.

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Two Nigerian students were allegedly beaten up in Roorkee, Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, India, after a disagreement with payment for food at their college canteen.

According to reports, the police have arrested eight people, including the security guards of Roorkee Institute of Technology (RIIT) Bhagwanpur for the violent act.  

The incident occurred on July 15, and the entire incident was posted on social media.  

According to police, a case has been registered against the eight people arrested.

 

Republicworld.com quoted Abhay Singh, CO Manglaur, Haridwar as stating that action would be taken against those who committed the violent act.

Singh added that both victims of the assault had been admitted to the hospital and that they were recovering.

A local shed more light on the issue, saying the beating started after a disagreement with one of the college administrators.

“Students faced problems after they ran out of money. They used to have their meals in the college canteen, but the manager stopped providing food after the students failed to pay. They wanted to go to their friend’s home, but the college administration did not give permission. 

“They stepped out and upon their return, got into a fight with the guard and later the college administration called goons to beat them up. They were badly beaten up, and people recorded videos too,” a local told NDTV.

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Some angry youth have attacked the police station at Liberian Camp near Kasoa in the Central Region of Ghana over the alleged shooting of a 27-year-old man identified as a Nigerian.

Following the shooting to death of their kith, the Nigerian community in the area besieged the Gomoa Buduburam Police Station on Saturday morning.

The incident, which happened on Saturday, has sparked outrage among the youth in the areas who have directed their anger at the police, with claims that a police officer allegedly shot the victim.

The deceased, identified as Precious Watta Billions, according to witnesses, was seen with two machetes which he said was to protect himself from an attack on his life.

The angry residents have destroyed properties of the Buduburam Police Station, with one of the protesters going naked to ‘display’ his frustration.

One of the leaders of the Nigerian Community in the area told journalists the deceased was mentally unsound, a report by Ghanaweb indicated.

 This incident comes a few weeks after a near diplomatic row between Ghana and Nigeria following the demolition of a property belonging to  Nigeria High Commission in Accra.

The incident was confirmed to the media by the Kasoa District Commander, Superintendent Samuel Odame, who said the shooting was meant to disable the machete-wielding man who was running wild in the community and threatening to harm anyone who came within his reach.

According to the police, Precious or Walter Billions, as the now-deceased man was known, attempted attacking some police officers who were called to rein him in, thus, the gunshots in self-defence.

One of the leaders of the Nigerian community in the area told journalists the deceased was mentally unsound.

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Some angry youth have attacked the police station at Liberian Camp near Kasoa in the Central Region of Ghana over the alleged shooting of a 27-year-old man identified as a Nigerian.

Following the shooting to death of their kith, the Nigerian community in the area besieged the Gomoa Buduburam Police Station on Saturday morning.

The incident, which happened on Saturday, has sparked outrage among the youth in the areas who have directed their anger at the police, with claims that a police officer allegedly shot the victim.

The deceased, identified as Precious Watta Billions, according to witnesses, was seen with two machetes which he said was to protect himself from an attack on his life.

The angry residents have destroyed properties of the Buduburam Police Station, with one of the protesters going naked to ‘display’ his frustration.

One of the leaders of the Nigerian Community in the area told journalists the deceased was mentally unsound, a report by Ghanaweb indicated.

 This incident comes a few weeks after a near diplomatic row between Ghana and Nigeria following the demolition of a property belonging to  Nigeria High Commission in Accra.

The incident was confirmed to the media by the Kasoa District Commander, Superintendent Samuel Odame, who said the shooting was meant to disable the machete-wielding man who was running wild in the community and threatening to harm anyone who came within his reach.

According to the police, Precious or Walter Billions, as the now-deceased man was known, attempted attacking some police officers who were called to rein him in, thus, the gunshots in self-defence.

One of the leaders of the Nigerian community in the area told journalists the deceased was mentally unsound.

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Concerned Nigerians, a pro-democracy and human rights group, has expressed shock over the death of United States foremost civil rights activist and congressman, John Lewis. 

The activist died after a six-month battle with cancer at the age of 80. 

Lewis in December 2019 was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which was discovered as a result of a routine medical visit and subsequent testing.

The convener of Concerned Nigerians group, Deji Adeyanju, while reacting to the news of the demise of Lewis, said the civil rights activist lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation. 

He said, “John Lewis was a courageous activist and one who stood steadfastly in defense of democracy and rights of people, especially the  people of color in America. He will be greatly missed. 

See Also International US Congressman And Civil Rights Icon, John Lewis, Is Dead 0 Comments 15 Hours Ago

“We join the whole world to mourn the death of John Lewis, a civil rights icon and legend. His passing leaves a tremendous void in the civil rights movement. Until his death, he kept up the fight for civil and human rights which is a wakeup call for every young person to emulate his servant-leadership lifestyle.”

Adeyanju enjoined young Nigerians to continue Lewis’ fight for true justice and fairness to enable Nigeria and the world become a better place for everyone.

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Concerned Nigerians, a pro-democracy and human rights group, has expressed shock over the death of United States foremost civil rights activist and congressman, John Lewis. 

The activist died after a six-month battle with cancer at the age of 80. 

Lewis in December 2019 was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer, which was discovered as a result of a routine medical visit and subsequent testing.

The convener of Concerned Nigerians group, Deji Adeyanju, while reacting to the news of the demise of Lewis, said the civil rights activist lived an exemplary life worthy of emulation. 

He said, “John Lewis was a courageous activist and one who stood steadfastly in defense of democracy and rights of people, especially the  people of color in America. He will be greatly missed. 

See Also International US Congressman And Civil Rights Icon, John Lewis, Is Dead 0 Comments 13 Hours Ago

“We join the whole world to mourn the death of John Lewis, a civil rights icon and legend. His passing leaves a tremendous void in the civil rights movement. Until his death, he kept up the fight for civil and human rights which is a wakeup call for every young person to emulate his servant-leadership lifestyle.”

Adeyanju enjoined young Nigerians to continue Lewis’ fight for true justice and fairness to enable Nigeria and the world become a better place for everyone.

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Police say people violated the measures but critics say the government is targeting the opposition.

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Eight one-horned rhinos have been killed after rains left 85% of the Kaziranga park under water.

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The Rwandan refugee was responsible for closing up the cathedral the day before the fire.

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It comes after a hashtag against their execution was used millions of times online.

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The territory will bring back strict lockdown measures, after more than 100 new infections.

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China's ambassador to the UK is confronted with drone footage that appears to show Uighurs being blindfolded and led to trains.

Since zoning of political offices has become the order of the day in Nigeria, an equitable consensus would follow that Southern Nigeria—the Igbo in particular—will produce the next president of the country, come 2023. But such zoning convention has begun to beg the question: Would the candidacy be open to the entire Igbo nation or would such opportunity be limited to the South-East zone of Nigeria?
 
The answer is a no brainer: The ticket ought to be open to the entire Igbo nation of the Southern extraction. Here is why.
 
The proponents of rotational presidency argue that the concept would ensure a sense of belonging among Nigeria’s disparate ethnic groups. Of the three Nigerian major tribes, namely, the Igbo, Hausa-Fulani, and the Yoruba; only the Igbo are yet to lead the country under a democratic setting.
 
The Igbo nation—that is, people sharing similar heritage, including culture, names, language, and religion—is beyond the South-East zone. But many political pundits understandably like to paint a marginal picture, and the gullible society, the Igbo not excluded, never hesitates to buy the gambit. This distortion has perpetuated because of the fleeting nature of memory in the Nigerian state, where true history has been tabooed.
 
Besides Igbo indigenous communities in other states; the Ohaneze Ndigbo, the umbrella Igbo socio-cultural group, is a seven-state structure, denoting areas with sizeable Igbo population, namely: Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, and Rivers states. The key offices are also distributed and rotated among the member states. 

 
For example, while the current President General of Ohaneze, Barrister John Nwodo, is from Enugu State of South-East zone, the General Secretary (Barrister Uche Okwukwu) and Vice- President General (Dr. Sylvanus O. Ebigwei) hail from the South-South states of Rivers and Delta, respectively. Needless to mention that Ambassador Ralph Uwechue, an indigene of Delta State, was the Ohaneze President-General between 2009 and 2013.
 
A defining muddle is that, of the seven Ohaneze states, only Delta and Rivers are in the South-South zone. The implication is that the Igbo indigenous communities have found themselves in the minority among the ethnic nationalities that make up the South-South zone. Therefore, if the presidency is to be zoned based on the existing six zone-structure of Nigeria, a South-South Igbo of this generation cannot realistically aspire to lead the country, his or her credentials notwithstanding.
 
The foregoing hypothesis was tested in 2007 when the South-South zone lobbied for the presidency. The South-South Igbo, remember, were told in unmistakable terms to explore such ambition whenever it is the turn of their kith and kin in the South-East.
 
It is on such backdrop that Pa Edwin Clark, the Leader of the South-South zone, made the infamous (or rather the rational) statement that Dr. Peter Odili, a former governor of Rivers state, had no moral right to encroach on the turn of the zone. Even though Mr. Odili was arguably the most compelling presidential aspirant of in the 2007 electoral season, he was blackballed mainly because of his Igbo heritage.
 
The South-South Igbo must not be allowed to suffer a double political whammy. Having been sidelined by their South-South neighbors in 2007, based on ethnic orientation, it behooves the South-East Igbo to accommodate their kith and kin in the race for the 2023 presidency.  
 
Make no mistake about this: The South-East is the only zone in Southern Nigeria that is yet to produce a democratically elected president. Therefore, embarking on the presidential project solely through prism of the South-East can be superficially plain. But the Igbo must be careful not to tempt a pyrrhic victory.
 
Politics is a game of number. We can take a cue from the political genius of our Hausa-Fulani counterparts. Despite their vastly disparate ethnic origins, the Fulani and the Hausa groups in the three Northern zones have molded into a seemingly homogeneous political block. It is not surprising, therefore, that they show a united front in the different political parties whenever it is the turn of the North to produce the president.
 
Though the North-West zone has dominated over the years, the people go the extra mile to ensure that the inherent zoning arrangement does not foreclose the aspirations of the Hausa or Fulani-speaking people from the North-East. That is how recent doyens of the North-East politics, such as Adamu Ciroma, Bamanga Tukur, Atiku Abubakar, and Nuhu Ribadu, were able to mount respectable presidential bids.
 
Broadening the Igbo political map is a win-win. It will offer Nigerians a larger pool of aspirants to choose from. Besides a galaxy of presidential aspirants from the South-East, it would also address the aspirations of the South-South Igbo, particularly those in their prime, for example, Patrick Utomi, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Ifeanyi Okowa, Tony Elumelu, Peter Odili, Mike Okiro, Chibuike Amaechi, and Nyesom Wike, to name a few.
 
Unity is power. A united Igbo front has a better chance of winning the zoning debate, to begin with.  Further, a Nigerian presidential project anchored through the entire Igbo nation has the potential to unite the people towards common purpose. It can halt the defeatist trajectory of postwar politics and de-Igbonization policy of successive national governments, which have combined to fracture the Igbo unity to the point where some never hesitate to deny their Igbo heritage either for post-war survival or in exchange of political porridge. It can equally instill commonsense to those who use mere political affiliations or boundaries to assume superior Igbo heritage over the others.
 
Igbo bu Igbo! The hint is that the South-East and South-South Igbo share a common destiny in the Nigerian experience. And they ought to share good fortunes, as they did past misfortunes. For instance, the South-East Igbo bore (or have continued to bear) the brunt of the first Nigeria coup, led by Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu, a South-South Igbo. Similarly, the South-South Igbo were not spared by the actions of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, a South-East Igbo, who led the Biafran war. The bond between the two Igbo groups is not lost in the fact that they have sustained similar voting patterns in national elections, despite postwar feuds, orchestrated by successive national governments.
 
A Nigerian president of Igbo extraction will not only heal the wounds of the past, it is also a bold step in harnessing the country’s abundant potential towards the greater good. It is an opportunity for equity and justice. It is an opportunity to assuage the long-standing distrust against Igbo-speaking people of Nigeria. It is a profound opportunity for the Igbo to reverse the downward spiral of distrust created among themselves by artificial post-civil war boundaries.
 
Dr SKC Ogbonnia, a former presidential aspirant, writes from Ugbo, Awgu, Enugu State.
Twitter: @ SKCOgbonnia

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