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CLO demands state of emergency over insecurity in Anambra, mourns slain Catholic priest Okonkwo
Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) has urged Anambra State Governor, Charles Chukwuma Soludo, to immediately declared state of emergency on insecurity in the State.
The CLO, in a statement on Sunday, also “decried with great disdain gruesome, insensate, despicable and barbaric murder” of Pharmacist Reverend Father Tobias Chukwujekwu Okonkwo by yet to be unidentified gunmen at Ihiala axis of Onitsha-Owerri expressway.
Reverend Father Okonkwo, who was a cleric with the Catholic Diocese of Nnewi, was the Manager/Director of Schools of Nursing, Midwifery, Medical Laboratory of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Ihiala.
They also “most passionately” appealed to the “abductors of revered Archbishop Prof. Godwin Okpala and Hon.Justus Azuka, member Anambra State House of Assembly, to unconditionally release them as a respect to God and dignity of human persons.”
The CLO, in a statement by Evangelist Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme and Comrade Chidi Mbah (Chairman and Secretary respectively) urged Governor Soludo to “declare state of emergency on insecurity in the State and devise marshal and strategic plans to tackle it.”
They also restated their earlier appeal on the Governor “to drastically overhaul security architecture of the State and discards services of sycophants that usually tells him that all is well Anambra is safe and secured.”
The CLO described the late Father Okonkwo as an “outspoken outstanding preacher of word of God, hardworking, dedicated and devoted towards propagating, preaching and spreading of gospel. Fr.Tobias was humble, selfless, humane and generous.
“We pray to God to forgives his shortcomings and accept his humble and gentle soul in paradise.
“May our merciful God give Okonkwo family, his loved ones, Ekwulumili Community and entire Catholic faithfuls the grace and fortitude to bear and endure the irreparable loss.
The human rights group appealed to the perpetrators of insecurity and killings: “Let us respect sanctity and sacredness of human persons.
“We most passionately appeals to abductors of revered Archbishop Prof. Godwin Okpala and Hon.Justus Azuka, member Anambra State House of Assembly, to unconditionally release them as a respect to God and dignity of human persons.
“We equally restate our patriotic appeal to our religious leaders in State to declare three days fasting and praying for Anambra State security crisis for God’s intervention in the unprecedented security challenges bedeviling the State.”
International Press Institute (IPI) has called for the immediate recall of the Channels TV journalists expelled from the Akwa Ibom State Government House on the state government’s orders.
The IPI through a press statement signed by Tobi Soniyi and Ochiaka Ugwu , Chairman and Secretary, Advocacy group demands immediate reversal of the order .
The Channel TV Correspondent and Cameraman were expelled following a video clip aired on Channels TV in which Akwa Ibom Governor, Umo Eno, was seen confirming his imminent defection from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The IPI insisted that “the state government’s reckless action is an alarming development.
” These journalists are experienced media personnel with a deep knowledge of government activities, and no journalist should be made to face this kind of humiliating treatment simply for doing their job. We will continue to support and encourage impartial reportage no matter the situation.
“We strongly condemn the Akwa Ibom State Government’s action, which is a direct attack on the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression.
“The state government’s action is also a gross violation of SECTION 22 of CHAPTER 2 of the constitution, which provides that “The press, radio, television and other agencies of the mass media shall at all times be free to uphold the fundamental objectives contained in this Chapter and uphold the responsibility and accountability of the Government to the people.”
“It is especially distressing and disappointing that Governor Umo Eno, considered a media-friendly state executive, could behave in this unacceptable and anti-democratic manner.
“We hereby remind him that independent journalism, press freedom and unbiased reportage are essential to democracy.
“We call on the governor to immediately reverse the expulsion and save his government from further embarrassment,” IPI said.
Nigerian celebrity veteran actress, Kate Henshaw, has said people see her as woman of easy virtue when in fact she has maintained her dignity and pride since after the collapse of her marriage.
She said- “Since my divorce, I’ve walked in silence. No scandal. No tape. No exposé. Not one soul has ever stood up to say, “She slept with me.” Yet the whispers never stop.
“But let me remind you — silence is not weakness. It is elegance. I choose peace over noise. Dignity over drama, because when you truly know your worth, you stop explaining yourself to people who’ve made up their minds to misunderstand you.
“Keep talking if it helps you sleep.
But remember: Lies travel fast, karma travels silently… and hits hard.”
Deji Adeyanju, a human rights activist and lawyer, Saturday night, took.a swipe at Peter Obi, the ex-presidential candidate of Labour Party, LP and his supporters popularly called ‘Obidients’ over attack on the former presidential candidate of African Action Congress, AAC, Omoleye Sowore.
In a statement signed by Adeyanju and made available to newsmen, he said the attacks to disable Sowore’s Facebook page are undemocratic and meant to silence opposing voices.
He said: “It is disappointing that Peter Obi’s supporters, known as the Obidient group, ganged up to report Omoyele Sowore’s Facebook page simply because he keeps speaking the truth about their candidate.
“This shameful move led to the disabling of Sowore’s page. This is not democracy. If you truly want a better Nigeria, you don’t silence opposing voices.
“Let’s be honest: Obi’s time as Anambra governor was full of failures. Doctors went on strike, education suffered, and he refused to hold local government elections.
“The killings of MASSOB members under his watch remain unresolved. Yet his supporters work hard to paint him as a saint.
“He moved from APGA to PDP, where he ran with Atiku, then to Labour Party, showing he has no clear ideology. The PDP he served in helped ruin Nigeria.
“Sowore has always stood for truth and justice. These attacks by Obidient supporters supported and sanctioned by Peter Obi himself are aimed to hide the truth.”
However, he added that “Nobody hates Peter Obi, what we oppose are the lies and image-washing by his followers. We won’t let politics become a cult. Nigeria deserves truth and accountability.”
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