News

Gen. Onoja retired with full military benefits, stop comparing him with Akume, Idoma group replies Shango

Published

7 months ago

April 30, 2024

*** warns against inflammatory comments
*** urges Tinubu to call Akume, Shango to order

The Idoma Heritage & Legacy Group (IHLG), has come hard on Elder Simon Shango, a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Benue State, over derogatory comments against a respected elder statement, Major General Lawrence Onoja (Rtd.).

Major General Onoja (Rtd.), who was a Military Governor of Plateau and Katsina States between 1986 and 1990, was said to have been physically assaulted by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume on Saturday, 6th April, 2024, during the wedding reception of the daughter of another Benue APC Chieftain, Chief Silva Ameh in Abuja; while the General Onoja held his peace.

Enraged by the seemingly humiliation of a respected Elder statement who has laid down his all to serve this nation; a group known as, The Idoma Progressive Youth Forum, in a petition to President Bola Tinubu, accused Akume of using his office to “stoke ethnic crisis” and “escalate insecurity in Benue State”, while registering fears that Akume’s “drunkenness” could bring the government of Tinubu to “unimaginable public ridicule”.

But in his response, Elder Shango took a swipe on entire Idoma nation, describing them as a powerless minority, while questioning the academic qualifications of Gen. Onoja, comparing him with Akume whom he said had two masters degrees from UK and first degree from the University of Ibadan.

In the article titled, ‘Power sharing in Benue State: Use equity not blackmail’, the Septuagenarian Journalist boasted that, “the numerical strength of the Tiv nation is far larger than all the other tribal groups put together, such that the Tiv votes alone can win the governorship of the state on any political party platform”; adding that, “the Idoma nation will need to learn a lesson or two in politics from their Tiv neighbours”.

While exaulting Akume’s academics ahead of Gen. Onoja’s, Shango said, “How can you compare someone like Senator George Akume, CON with an impeccable WASC, Higher School Certificate, a University of Ibadan degree, two Masters Degrees in the United Kingdom with a Teacher Grade Three in St Augustine’s Teachers College in Lafia? How such a person managed to get into the Nigeria Defense Academy calls for investigation”.

Reacting to Elder Shango’s outburst on Idoma nation and an elder, the Idoma Heritage and Legacy Group (IHLG), in a statement signed by Barr. Julius Ogwuche on Monday, urged the Tiv Elder Shango to covert the numbers of his years on earth to elderly wisdom and common sense, and use his old age to unite Benue leaders, rather than igniting divisions in the state.

“Rather than speaking to the issues of gross abuse of office and acute marginalization raised by the Idoma Youth Forum in its petition to the President, and undertake a selfless step to advising Akume on how to solve the issues; Elder Shango elected to travel the old route of stoking ethnic acrimony, in an attempt to curry favour from Akume.

“People like Elder Shango, from the account he narrated in the article, are responsible for the ethnic crises and underdevelopment that Benue State has been witnessing, as long as he remains in the background to pollute the minds of the principal state actors, the people of Benue would not enjoy peace, unity and harmony. He has also said only Tiv can vote and produce Governor for Benue, meaning, the Idoma, Igede and other minorities are insignificant and not needed.

“We also view it as a low ebb, for a man whom we thought was a Journalist in the first and second Republic, to question the academic qualifications of Gen. Onoja. Why on earth would such a man, if not for a loss of memory or low esteem exhibition, be describing Gen. Onoja as having a Grade III Teacher’s Certificate as his highest academic qualification, whereas, Gen. Onoja does not have any certificate known as Grade III at all?

“The profile of Gen. Onoja has been in the public domain, having successfully served Nigeria in various capacities in the military and since retirement, has been in the political system of Nigeria, vying for the position of Governorship and Senate in Benue, and this made INEC and other relevant agencies to have his full academic documents. Elder Shango should have used his journalistic instinct to explore these avenues, rather than coming out to insult his old age.

“Unlike Elder Shango, whose only achievement in life, according to Google search, was a Journalist in the defunct New Nigeria Newspaper and National Publicity Secretary of the defunct NPN; Gen. Onoja had an accomplished career in the military, a towering social credentials in the Nigerian Army, with utmost integrity amongst the ranks and file. Even the international community recognised Gen. Onoja’s rich military experience and academic background.

“When the likes of Shango was just a reporter in the newsroom, Gen. Onoja was a Defence Adviser in Nigeria’s Embassy, Cairo, Egypt and in 1986, he was appointed by the President and Commander-in-Chief, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, as his Principal Staff Officer and same Gen. Babangida further appointed him later in 1986 as Military Governor of Plateau State, the position he held till 1988, when he was appointed Military Governor of Katsina State by the same military government.

“Gen. Onoja had also served as Principal Staff Officer to Gen. Sanni Abacha; Member, Sudan Peace Committee for Reconciliation in 1992; Military Secretary, Nigerian Army; GOC 3rd Armoured Division, Jos; Member of Provision Ruling Council (the highest Military authority and decisions making body); Principal General Officer (Chief of Staff) General Staff Headquarters, Aso Villa, from 1996 to 1998 and retired same 1998 with full military benefits.

“It would interest Shango to note that, as a Journalist, it would be wrong to allude that a man transversed across this terrain in the military with just a ‘grade III’ certification.

“We invite Elder Shango into the academic world of Gen. Onoja, where he rose to the peak in his pursuit, aside the grade III which was traditionally or perhaps, mischievously registered in the brain of Shango. A very refined gentleman, Gen. Onoja had his preliminary studies on scholarship at Cameron University, Lawton, Oklahoma, USA, in 1975, after coming out in flying colours of distinctions in his GCE ‘O’ Level/’A’ Level examinations, shortly after leaving Saint Augustine’s College in Lafia for his teacher’s training.

“He also possessed a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) Political Science, from the Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, still on Army Scholarship from 1976 to 1979; and same Army Scholarship saw him through a Masters of Science Degree (M.Sc) International Relations in same Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, from 1979 to 1980.

“Elder Shango should also be schooled that, Gen. Onoja, one of the finest military Generals highly celebrated and reverred by Idoma people, obtained a Ph.D in Law and Diplomacy from the prestigious University of Jos, between 1990 to 1995 and he is currently one of the highly rated Lecturers at the Post Graduate School of the University of Abuja, teaching the Doctorate Students things they need to know about Military Science and Military Politics, the course that can hardly been found in the contemporary curriculum of other universities.

“One of the publications of Gen. Onoja, ‘Peace Keeping & International Security in a Changing World’, is the most talked about in the military archives of Nigeria and international journals, with many universities writing to the General for copies in their various libraries”, the statement said.

Barr. Ogwuche reminded Elder Shango that it was that same Gen. Onoja he referred to as ‘Grade III’ Teacher, who used his military connection to create 5 local government areas in Benue State in the year 1996, “including Akume’s Tarka LGA where Shango also hails from and Logo in Tiv land, Ohimini and Agatu LGAs in Idoma land, and Obi LGA in Igede land”; saying, “he should ask himself and any other person in Benue, if anyone had broken that record or created ordinary polling unit in Benue”.

The group also called on President Tinubu to reign on the SGF, Akume, Elder Shango and others who it said are planting seeds of disunity amongst the various ethnic nationalities in Benue State, saying, almost all the appointments given to Benue indigenes under the Tinubu government are from the Tiv speaking area, leaving other major tribes to lament why they voted for APC in the last general elections.

News

Brotherhood crisis turns violent as worshippers reject Olumba’s successor

Published

2 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The prolonged succession crisis in a Nigerian Christian religious sect, the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, has festered on since its founder, Olumba Obu, passed away.

The crisis turned violent recently as angry worshippers in a particular branch in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, became riotous, destroying the portrait of Olumba’s first son, Rowland, who leads a faction of the sect.

Olumba’s daughter, Ibum, leads another faction.

A video, which is being circulated on WhatsApp groups and Facebook, captured a man in a white cassock yanking off Rowland’s portrait from the wall and smashing it on the floor amid cheers from worshippers.

Rowland’s portrait was hung near Olumba’s, but the angry worshippers did not attack the latter.

“Bring it down!” a woman’s voice could be heard shouting in the background of the video as the man in a white cassock smashed the glass frame on the ground.

“This is who we are worshipping,” a man’s voice could be heard shouting repeatedly as the camera panned and then focused on Olumba’s portrait on the wall.

It is not clear when the incident happened.

Amah Williams, the sect’s spokesperson, said the incident happened in Uyo at the sect’s Nsikak Edouk Avenue branch.

Rowland and Ibum, with hundreds of their followers, are claiming the leadership of the 68-year-old sect after their father’s passing, causing a disastrous split in a once united and strong organisation headquartered in the Biakpan community in Cross River State, Nigeria’s South-south.

‘They are rebels’

Mr Williams, the sect’s spokesperson, told reporters on Saturday in Uyo that those responsible for the incident belong to a breakaway faction called Brotherhood of the Cross and Star New Kingdom Ministry.

He described them as rebels who do not want to accept Rowland’s leadership – he did not call Rowland by name as Olumba’s successor is revered among worshippers as “King of Kings and Lord of Lords, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu”.

“They are rebels. They rebelled; they rejected the rulership of the Kingdom of Christ,” Mr Williams told reporters.

“The holy image of our father is what we hold sacred,” he said, apparently referring to the destruction of Rowland’s portrait.

A reporter asked the spokesperson what place Jesus Christ occupies in the Brother of the Cross and Star.

“That same (Jesus) Christ is the one that came with the new name Olumba Olumba Obu,” responded.

“If Olumba were to be a white man, black men would have gone to worship on his feet.”

The over 1 million global members of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star do not see themselves as a church but as the new Kingdom of God on Earth. They have also refused to admit that their founder had passed away as the sect has yet to announce his passing or publicly conduct his burial.

News

Tinubu’s reforms struggling to deliver meaningful results – IMF

Published

2 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Eighteen months after the implementation of Nigeria’s ongoing economic reforms, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has observed that the fiscal policies introduced by the President Bola Tinubu administration are struggling to deliver meaningful results.

Catherine Patillo, IMF Deputy Director, while presenting a report at the Lagos Business School (LBS) on Friday, reported a mixed performance of economic reforms across Sub-Saharan Africa, with notable successes in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Zambia.

Nigeria was conspicuously absent from the list of success stories in the region.

The report stated that sub-Saharan Africa’s average economic growth rate is projected to remain at 3.6 per cent for 2024. It noted that Nigeria’s growth rate, pegged at 3.19 per cent, falls below this average.

Patillo said that while macroeconomic imbalances have reduced in several countries, Nigeria has yet to show such progress.

She stated that more than two-thirds of countries have undertaken fiscal consolidation, stressing that while the median primary balance is expected to narrow by 0.7 percentage points alone in 2024, there are notable improvements in Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, and Zambia, among others.

The report stated, “In contrast, Nigeria’s inflation rate, which slowed briefly in July and August, resumed its upward trend in September, rising further in October.

“At 33.8 per cent, it significantly exceeds the 21 per cent target set for 2024, with analysts predicting further increases in November and December.”

The report also observed Nigeria’s struggles with exchange rate stability, highlighting it as one of the worst-performing nations in that regard.

According to the report, other countries in the region are experiencing reduced foreign exchange pressures but Nigeria’s local currency depreciation and instability remain a concern.

On debt servicing, the report said Nigeria ranked among countries suffering the heaviest fiscal burden.

The IMF noted that rising debt service obligations are consuming substantial portions of revenue, limiting resources available for development.

It stated that in Angola, Ghana, Nigeria, and Zambia, the increase in interest payments alone absorbed a massive 15 per cent of total revenue.

The IMF grouped Nigeria among resource-intensive countries struggling with social and political challenges that hinder reform implementation.

Political unrest, public dissatisfaction, and tight financing conditions were identified as major impediments.

The report noted that resource-intensive countries continue to grow at about half the rate of the rest of the region, with oil exporters struggling the most and further noted that adjustment fatigue, public resistance, and weak communication strategies are undermining the impact of reforms in Nigeria.

The IMF recommended rethinking reform strategies, urging countries like Nigeria to adopt measures that mobilise public support for deep structural changes.

It pointed out the need for greater attention to communication and engagement strategies, reform design, compensatory measures, and rebuilding trust in public institutions.

News

NMDPRA seals oil, gas retail outlets in Delta over sharp practices

Published

2 hours ago

November 17, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, has sealed petroleum retail outlets and gas plants over sharp practices in Delta.

Their offenses bordered on under-dispensing, operating without valid licenses and other illegalities within the filling stations.

They were sealed by the surveillance team of the regulatory authority at Asaba and Ibusa in the state.

The Delta State Coordinator of NMDPRA, Engr. Victor Ohwodiasa, revealed over the weekend that the authority would not tolerate a situation where people would be shortchanged as a result of under-dispensing and other illegalities.

Ohwodiasa called on petroleum marketers to ensure that their metres are well-calibrated and sell accurately.

According to him, the awkward dealings included but not limited to under-dispensing, product quality, suspected diversion, illegal bunkering activities, illegal discharge of unauthorised petroleum products in unauthorised locations.

“In line with our mandates, we constantly visit petroleum retail outlets to ensure they sell one litre for one litre.

“Agreeably, there are bound to be variations due to mechanical error in their machines but these are subject to limits, when it exceeds, we shutdown the facilities,” he said

“Based on what we have been doing to ensure the consumers are not shortchanged. We have been visiting retail outlets across the local government areas in the state to ensure sanity is brought and maintained within the retail outlets.

“This week, we have sealed four stations within the Asaba and Ibusa axis over offences bordering on under-dispensing, operating without valid licenses and illegal activities within the filling stations.

“We will continue to sustain the tempo in this ember months and beyond to ensure products are made available to consumers and sold at the right prices and quantity,” he said.

Ohwodiasa urged the public to always notify the regulatory authority whenever they notice any awkward transactions in their dealing with the petroleum marketers for immediate actions.