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Photonews: Mitt Romney Picks Paul Ryan As Running Mate

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Photonews: Massive Earthquakes Hit Iran

Map Showing Quakes; Photo Credit: U.S. Geological Survey

Evacuation Of Quakes Victims

U- Report: Campaign For Democracy Urges South-East Governors To Demolish Houses, Structures Used For Criminality

Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin; President, Campaign For Democracy(CD)

Report By: Campaign For Democracy(South-East Zone)

The Campaign for Democracy (CD), South-East Region has urged the South-East governors to demolish any house or structure used by criminals for criminal activities within the zone.

This was contained in a statement issued by CD in Onitsha, Anambra State; while reacting to the recent compromise of some house and business premises owners with criminals within the zone.

The statement was signed by Dede Uzor A.Uzor and Dr. Jerry Chukwuokolo, who are the Chairman and Secretary of the group respectively.

The statement called on governors in the zone to act with political will, to send a bill to their respective houses of assembly to demolish any established property used as criminal hide-outs or used in any shade to advance the course of criminality in the state.

It said this in view of last week arrest of some suspected kidnappers by the Anambra State Police Commissioner, Mr Ballah Nasarawa in a hotel at Nkpor near Onitsha; the state governors had ``to deal decisively with collaborators and partners in-crime of these evil elements’’.

``This would be achieved by demolishing the identified houses and business premises so that it would serve as a deterrent to others, who are willing to harbour criminals in any shade.

``It would also create a sense of responsibility among the landlords and business operators in any locality to always monitor their tenants.

``As well as property and structure owners keeping careful watch over their belongings in order not to allow suspicion characters or un-authorized squatters to use their facilities,’’ it said.

The statement, however, lauded Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo State for sending a bill, which had been signed into law, that any identified kidnapper’s property or structure should be demolished and the land taken over by the government.

``The case of Eze CSO Okafor, The Ezejiofor 1 of Nnenator Autonomous community in Ihioma within Orlu LGA, Imo State; whose son was arrested for kidnapping and after the investigation it was found out that the monarch was allegedly privy to the crime his son was committing and failed to report to appropriate security agencies.

``The state government enforced the law and demolished the house of the monarch, striped him of his staff of office, removed his sign-post and banished him from parading himself as a traditional ruler,’’ it said.

In a related development, CD frowns at the frequent traveling of Gov. Obi to Abuja in the pretense of attracting foreign investors and being a member of the Nigeria Economic Team.

``The frequency of Gov. Obi’s travels to Abuja is affecting governance in Anambra State.

``As well as denying Anambrarians the venue to meet their governor on issues concerning the state and its development,’’ it said.   

U-Report: Ogoni Self-Government Verdict

Ogoni Flag

Report By: Tambari Deekor ( Associate Editor,  MOSOP Media)

“It is irrevocable, but poses critical question to Nigeria,” says Dr. Goodluck Diigbo

MOSOP President/Spokesman, Dr. Goodluck Diigbo has spoken on what he described as: “The most important question facing Nigeria in the aftermath of the attainment of self-government by the Ogoni people through the nonviolent discipline.”

“Can Nigeria put its house in order in time enough to ensure that other groups seeking public participation in governance; conduct their affairs peacefully as we, the Ogoni people have done on our path to self-government, even when repeatedly faced with acts of genocide,” Diigbo asked.

Reacting to Nigerian Guardian report, captioned: “A new threat from Ogoniland” published online Friday, 10 August 2012, Diigbo stated that: “Nigeria ought to express gratitude to the oppressed Ogoni people for their nonviolent commitment, patience and long suffering leading to the actualization of their self-government.”

Diigbo said: “The self-government of Ogoni is irrevocable under international law and will remain self-government for the indigenous Ogoni people, by the Ogoni people and for the Ogoni people.”

“This is why we are meeting with local politicians in order to promote policy of inclusion so that we can together reorganize Ogoni to make it a new, unique and prosperous indigenous nation,” Diigbo remarked.

Diigbo said any act with intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group is defined by the United Nations as genocide, saying President Goodluck Jonathan should not be pushed to commit genocide by those proposing military invasion of Ogoni.

“Going by international law, it is only the Ogoni people that have the right to freely determine our own political status, which we did since August 26, 1990 through the Ogoni Bill of Rights. Then, we waited for 22 years. To let the government of Nigeria or another ethnic group in Nigeria declare self-government for the Ogoni, would mean that the Ogoni have abdicated their own responsibility. We have acted non-violently and lawfully for self-government within Nigeria, and we have never made any U-turn,” Diigbo reaffirmed.

Concluding, Diigbo referred to relevant articles of the UNDRIP: Article 3: “Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination. By virtue of that right they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development.” Article 4: “Indigenous peoples, in exercising their right to self-determination, have the right to autonomy or self-government in matters relating to their internal and local affairs, as well as ways and means for financing their autonomous functions” Article 5: “Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social and cultural institutions, while retaining their right to participate fully, if they so choose, in the political, economic, social and cultural life of the State.”