Xclusive: Mayhem In Rivers State House Of Assembly, Speaker, Leader Hospitalised

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttQqGA0kajkVCEffmj0NubON5QsBQduKlKCJuYGM7-bJXXjYuHMaqiqfAfsUEoehJG9GmhADvD45woQfsInJJJecmschxL-0UfuXocTn4wg4Qfw-pYbOLJG4LcNPax7-LAy5tfTMMv4c/s1600/riversscreenshot2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttQqGA0kajkVCEffmj0NubON5QsBQduKlKCJuYGM7-bJXXjYuHMaqiqfAfsUEoehJG9GmhADvD45woQfsInJJJecmschxL-0UfuXocTn4wg4Qfw-pYbOLJG4LcNPax7-LAy5tfTMMv4c/s1600/riversscreenshot2.png" width="400" /></a></div> At least four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were Tuesday, injured in a fracas on the floor of the House.<br /> <br /> At the end of the squabble, the group of five legislators opposed to the governor claimed to have removed Speaker Otelemaba Amachree. Their claim was, however, quickly repudiated by 23 members who flocked in support of the speaker.<br /> <br /> Yesterday’s violent clash happened on the first day of sitting since the political upheaval in the state triggered by removal of the structures of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP from Governor Amaechi about three months ago.<br /> <br /> Computers and several valuables in the main chamber of the legislative complex were smashed in the morning violence that was witnessed by security agents who had mounted an unprecedented cordon within and outside the chambers.<br /> <br /> The members had been recalled from an indefinite break by Speaker Amachree following a request by Governor Amaechi for an amendment to the 2013 budget of the state.<br /> <br /> At about 10.30 a.m. as members sauntered in and engaged themselves in banters awaiting procession of the speaker, the leader of the House, Hon Chidi Lloyd offered a hand to the member representing Ogu-Bolo constituency, Hon Evans Bipi, a newly married member and relation of First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, whose wedding drew the First Lady to Port-Harcourt last month.<br /> <br /> Llyod’s gesture of a handshake was rewarded with a slap on the face by Bipi and immediately, the whole house was engulfed in bedlam. In the melee, one of the other four members in the anti-Amaechi camp dashed for the tripod of a television camera and swung it round, hitting at opponents.<br /> <br /> He was followed by another lawmaker who went for the mace and smashed it on the head of two lawmakers. The violence continued for some time with security men watching until Governor Amaechi rushed to the scene with his own entourage of security men from Government House who attempted to stop the fracas.<br /> <br /> The fracas was caught on video. Watch below<br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zM9P9nxNMA8?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhttQqGA0kajkVCEffmj0NubON5QsBQduKlKCJuYGM7-bJXXjYuHMaqiqfAfsUEoehJG9GmhADvD45woQfsInJJJecmschxL-0UfuXocTn4wg4Qfw-pYbOLJG4LcNPax7-LAy5tfTMMv4c/s1600/riversscreenshot2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div> <br />

Xclusive: Mayhem In Rivers State House Of Assembly, Speaker, Leader Hospitalised

At least four members of the Rivers State House of Assembly were Tuesday, injured in a fracas on the floor of the House. At th...

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Xclusive: If I’m Arrested, Nigeria Will Be Histroy – Dokubo-Asari

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFE48a070sMNYGzbHm2u-5uYtuPqThnp0gieEvYjaNiAxdZQLrVx58IChUPj-PTidTCWAa7UjGj0-Zu8fi7_4qlT5215ntSdVukeXArHuX79oWDU_Izx2K1RQXPsg2jcJZuoQmnx407v0/s1600/Asari-Dokubo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFE48a070sMNYGzbHm2u-5uYtuPqThnp0gieEvYjaNiAxdZQLrVx58IChUPj-PTidTCWAa7UjGj0-Zu8fi7_4qlT5215ntSdVukeXArHuX79oWDU_Izx2K1RQXPsg2jcJZuoQmnx407v0/s400/Asari-Dokubo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force,  Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, has dared the  House of Representatives and leaders of northern Nigeria to arrest him if they can.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Dokubo-Asari, who spoke with journalists on Wednesday evening in Abuja, said he stood by his words that there would  be no peace if Jonathan is not reelected in 2015.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He was responding to calls by members of the House, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State and northern leaders, saying the leaders were cowards if he was not arrested.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The former President of Ijaw Youth Council  also added that any attempt to arrest him would make Nigeria “a history”, asking why those calling for his arrest turned deaf ears when some northern leaders like former Military Head of State Maj.-Gen Mohamadu Buhari, Alhaji Lawal Kaita and a former member of the House of Representatives, Farouk Aliyu, among others.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said, “I stand by my statement which I made in my early press conference. There will be no peace, not only in the Niger Delta, but everywhere, if Goodluck Jonathan is not president by 2015.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “I want to refresh your memories with comments made by these northerners, who had in the time past threatened war and break-up of Nigeria.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “In 2010, one Lawal Kaita said and I quote: ‘Anything short of a Northern President is tantamount to stealing our Presidency. Jonathan has to go and he will go. Even if he uses the incumbency power to get his nomination on the platform of the PDP, he would be frustrated out…The North is determined, if that happens, to make the country ungovernable for President Goodluck Jonathan or any other Southerner who finds his way to the seat of power on the platform of the PDP against the principle of the party’s zoning policy’.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Today insurgent groups, in furtherance to Kaita’s call a’re wreaking havoc, attacking military barracks and seizing weapon, but we will not sit and watch. Kaita made this statement, nobody arrested or call for the arrest of this fellow,  today he is walking free.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Buhari made this statement in 2011, he was never arrested and nobody ever called for his arrest. In other countries, former leaders are being tried, but here, a man who overthrew a legitimate government, continues to threaten us with blood and nothing has happened.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He added, “I am not afraid of arrest. I am saying it bold and clear without mincing  words, that the consequences of my arrest, Nigeria will be history.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The last time Obasanjo arrested me, my arrest reduced Nigeria oil production to 700,000 barrels per day.  </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  This time, it will reduce it to zero barrel, and we will match violence with violence, intrigues with intrigues. We are ready for them. Goodluck Jonathan will complete his tenure of two terms, whether they like it or not.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “I am daring them to arrest me if they can. If they don’t, they are cowards and shame on them.”</div>

Xclusive: If I’m Arrested, Nigeria Will Be Histroy – Dokubo-Asari

Leader of the Niger Delta People’s Volunteer Force,  Alhaji Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, has dared the  House of Representatives and leaders o...

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Xclusive: Okah, MEND Threatens To Resume Hostilities On Friday

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWcM0JieGL10JIzS2Gln6CYwliwOLn55WnPLqtKf6rMrXBo3jyRZHe7oFzLp1BG_5LNToER_wwnzH8T8KugwXNlxIud5wt8Ml6VfMv6mfdcQtCJ8Ue0eOF-Ty3vOkFrPthbo0V4tEMFo/s1600/MEND_215923734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWcM0JieGL10JIzS2Gln6CYwliwOLn55WnPLqtKf6rMrXBo3jyRZHe7oFzLp1BG_5LNToER_wwnzH8T8KugwXNlxIud5wt8Ml6VfMv6mfdcQtCJ8Ue0eOF-Ty3vOkFrPthbo0V4tEMFo/s400/MEND_215923734.jpg" width="365" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta on Wednesday announced that it would on Friday (tomorrow) resume hostilities in the country.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> In an e-mail sent to journalists, a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, MEND’s spokesman, Gbomo Jomo, said a series of attacks, codenamed <i>Hurricane Exodus,</i> would begin at midnight on Friday.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It said the attacks would be “a direct repercussion of a forged threat letter contrived by the Nigerian and South African governments purporting to have originated from MEND”.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> But government security agencies on Wednesday said they were prepared to checkmate the militant group.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Director of Information at the Defence Headquarters, Brig Gen. Chris Olukolade, warned those behind the threat to avoid any action that could endanger the peace in the area.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said that the DHQ had its operatives on the ground and are prepared at all times to defend the interest of the country.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Olukolade warned MEND against reversing the hand of peace in the Niger Delta.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> He said, “The DHQ has our outfit on the ground in the Niger Delta. Our structures are on ground in the area. </div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  They should not reverse the hand of peace; nobody should threaten the peace in the area.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The JTF is on the ground and is prepared to do their duties in defence of every interest of the nation. Anybody trying to threaten the peace in the area is advised against it.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">  The police said they would bring to book anyone that engaged in any act that contravened the law of the land, stressing that it would not condone acts of lawlessness in any part of the country.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, who said the police would not be drawn into responding to threats issued by criminal elements, noted that the Nigeria Police were ready to deal with any acts of brigandage.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The police will not respond to threats by criminal elements, but suffice it to say we are ready to curb any acts of lawlessness or criminality in the country,” he said.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The statement read, “This fake letter was used as evidence against Henry Okah on whom a 13- year sentence was passed. To make matters worse, the prosecution’s second witness, Mr. Sele Victor-Ben, had exclaimed in court that the letter was not genuine after failing to catch the prosecutor’s eye who wanted him to lie under oath.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “We are now determined to conjure this imaginary trumped-up threat into a painful reality.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The attacks will be sustained until an unreserved apology is offered to MEND and the Nigerian government shows its willingness to dialogue. The same way they are willing to dialogue with Boko Haram.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> A former leader of MEND, Henry Okah was on March 26 sentenced to 24 years imprisonment by a South African court which found him guilty of the October 1, 2010 bombing in Abuja and another one in Warri, Delta State. He was also sentenced for threatening South African government officials after his arrest in South Africa in 2010.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> MEND had been the main militant group behind attacks on oil installations and foreign workers in the restive Niger Delta before the Federal Government under the late President Umaru Yar’Adua granted amnesty to the fighters who surrendered their arms.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> At the peak of MEND’s hostilities in the Niger Delta, home to the country’s vast oil wealth, oil production dipped significantly. Between 2006 and 2009, Nigeria’s oil output was cut by a quarter due to MEND activities.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The violence in the region reduced considerably after thousands of fighters in the different militia groups disarmed under the government’s amnesty programme. Most of the ex-militants are currently receiving various vocational trainining under the post-amnesty rehabilitation package.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Okah was one of the few militants who rejected the government’s amnesty programme which they said they distrusted.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> Reacting to the threat on Wedneday, the Joint Task Force, the military outfit in charge of security in the region, asked the persons “parading themselves as MEND” to embrace the reigning peace in the region.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> The JTF, in a statement by its Media Coordinator, Lt.-Col. Onyema Nwachukwu, said it would not allow any aggrieved group to upset the peace in the region, saying it had positioned its troops in strategic places and put them on the alert to tackle possible upheaval.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> It said, “Niger Deltans are not in any bondage and therefore do not require armed struggle or emancipation as claimed by this threatening gang.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “What Niger Deltans are in dire need of now is peace for sustainable development, having emerged from the dark days of turbulence in the region.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “Informed by this development we have effected some redeployment to tackle any upheaval. This set of people are advised to toe the path of law and order in addressing whatever grievance they have and to desist from any action that will upset the peace and development of the Niger Delta.</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> “The good and peace-loving people of the Niger Delta are enjoined to dissociate themselves, their communities and leadership from this unwholesome approach as portrayed by this group.”</div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">   Source: Punch</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpWcM0JieGL10JIzS2Gln6CYwliwOLn55WnPLqtKf6rMrXBo3jyRZHe7oFzLp1BG_5LNToER_wwnzH8T8KugwXNlxIud5wt8Ml6VfMv6mfdcQtCJ8Ue0eOF-Ty3vOkFrPthbo0V4tEMFo/s1600/MEND_215923734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div> <br />

Xclusive: Okah, MEND Threatens To Resume Hostilities On Friday

The Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta on Wednesday announced that it would on Friday (tomorrow) resume hostilities in the ...

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