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ACF Hails South East Governors For Disowning Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB

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ACF Hails South East Governors For Disowning Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has hailed leaders from the South-East for distancing themselves from the violent secessionist agenda of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The governors and leaders on Saturday said they are against agitations for Biafra by IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

In a communique issued after a meeting in Enugu State, the South-East Governors disclosed that they believe in one united Nigeria under a platform of justice, equality of rights, fairness, love, and respect for one another.

Reacting to the position of the South-East leaders, ACF spokesman, Emmanuel Yawe, applauded the Igbo leaders for condemning the killings of security agents and vandalizing of government structures in the South East.

The forum also described the decision of Igbo leaders to condemn IPOB and the group’s agitations for Biafra as a bold stop.

He said: “It is like they are now rising up to the challenge because there is no part of this country where you will not find the Igbo man, they are all over the country and they need the country.”

“If they all go back to the southeast, where will they find the space? So, they are many and their land is small, they need this country.

“Those who are advocating for separation, I don’t know whether they know the geography of this country.

“If you drive all the Igbos to the South-East, there will be a major crisis for them so I think the southeast governors have done a wise thing by making this statement and we encourage them.”

According to Yawe, nobody benefits from crisis and war situations. He urged Igbo leaders to share their experiences and the consequence of Nigeria’s civil war with their youths.

“There is no part of this country that hasn’t got problems. When they go back to their own corner of the country and only Igbos are there, they will discover that the Igbos have more problems than they did while existing with other regions.”

He said the ACF had always urged northern youths to show restrain no matter the level of provocation from other parts of the country saying the region has not forgotten how the 1960’s retaliated killings set the country in flames.

“You see the thing about the north is that people will be provoking the north and the north will just keep quiet, but once the north retaliates, the whole country will go in flames.

“So we will continue to advise northern youths not to take the law into their hands, they should remain calm and not set the country ablaze,” Yawe said.

Afenifere Backs South East Governors On United Nigeria, Condemns IPOB

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Afenifere Backs South East Governors On United Nigeria, Condemns IPOB

Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere has backed the position of the South-East Governors in condemning the violent agitations of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Recall that the governors and leaders on Saturday said they are against agitations for Biafra by IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

In a communique issued after a meeting in Enugu State, the South-East Governors disclosed that they believe in one united Nigeria under a platform of justice, equality of rights, fairness, love, and respect for one another.

Reacting to the position of the South East leaders, Afenifere said while every part of Nigeria has a right to agitate, it must be done without resorting to violence.

In an interview with Daily Trust, the spokesman of the group, Jare Ajayi, said the group also believes in a corporate, united Nigeria where true federalism, equity, and justice prevail.

He said, “We want to make it clear that Afenifere does not believe in violence in any form. Afenifere believes that so many things can be achieved without necessarily using violence.

“But at the same time we believe also that every Nigerian has the right to express his or her opinion in any form.

“So those who are agitating for a state of their own, for instance, those seeking autonomy, either the Biafra Republic or the Oduduwa Republic or whatever, we believe that they have the right to do so but what we will not support is to be violent.

“To that extent, we also agree with the South-East leaders that we believe very much in a united Nigeria but Nigeria that practices true federalism.

We want a Nigeria, where equity, justice, fairness, and peaceful coexistence take place and every constituent part of the country, has a right to govern itself within the United Nigeria through the practice of true federalism.

“Also, on the issue of security, just like they said security is local, crimes are local as well and therefore solution to it should be local. In other words, there must be state police and community police, not the one controlled from the capital territory.”

FG has announced plans to train 600 youths across the nation on Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

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FG has announced plans to train 600 youths across the nation on Information and Communications Technology (ICT)

The national government has announced plans to train 600 youths across the nation on Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in Katsina State through the Katsina State Institute of Technology and Management (KSITM) to stop youth restiveness.

The Executive Secretary, Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Dr. Bello Aliyu Gusau, who revealed this in Katsina while on a working visit to the institute, said the youths would be drawn across the 36 states of the federation.

The visit was meant to estimate the facilities on ground to permit the PTDF collaborate with the institute for its sponsorship of youths throughout the country to acquire different ICT skills suggested by the management.

Aliyu, according to a statement issued to journalists Sunday by the Head, Information and Public Relations of KSITM, Aminu Magaji Idris, was highly impressed with the state-of-the-art facilities at the seminar.

While conducting the PTDF manager round the amenities, the Rector of KSITM, Dr. Babangida Abubakar Albaba, said that the training to be offered comprises computer hardware repairs and upkeep, website/database design and graphics layout.

Others, he said, were mobile installation and maintenance, net of thing (IoT), audio and video editing, embedded system, networking essentials, fibre termination, installation and repairs, PCB Design and manufacturing in addition to 3D design and production.

Ambassador TY Buratai and his foresight on national security

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Ambassador TY Buratai and his foresight on national security

 

By Mark Bonaventure

Nigeria is somewhat experiencing security challenges that are not surprising because there are various factors responsible for it. In this case, I would say the Boko Haram insurgency took the country unaware since 2009 when the Boko Haram group began a violent campaign in North-East Nigeria.

The Nigerian Military has been actively involved, recording gains and setbacks simultaneously because it’s asymmetric warfare and not the conventional. The implication of this is that there has to be a constant review of operational strategies because insurgencies worldwide are dynamic and evolve every passing day.

I recall that insurgent activities were aimed at security agencies from the onset of the Boko Haram insurgency. From there, it metamorphosed into hostage-taking. It further transformed into targeting women and children and establishing a caliphate. And today, one cannot point to the actual aim of the insurgents because they have continually engaged the Military in fierce battles.

This fact was corroborated by the former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, when he stated that the Boko Haram insurgency might not end in 20 years. I recall when he made that statement; most Nigerians didn’t comprehend the import of his message because they were not knowledgeable of the dynamics in asymmetric warfare.

He said the terrorists had indoctrinated the people for a long time, making it difficult to defeat them within a short period. He also stated that political and socio-economic factors need to be addressed, adding that many communities in northern Nigeria lacked basic amenities.

With the benefit of hindsight, he was right because Nigeria is still battling insurgency even with the change of Service Chiefs that most Nigerians had clamoured. And was that the solution? Has that changed anything? I still believe that the change of service chiefs was meant to rejig the operational strategies and not because of non-performance as some section of the country would want us to believe.

It could thus be argued that it was a strategic move by the President because there was a need to expand frontiers in the war against insurgency in the country, which in my opinion culminated in the appointment of the former service chiefs as non-career ambassadors to galvanize the much needed regional support at addressing the threat posed by the Boko Haram insurgents.

It was thus speculated that Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai has been posted to the Benin Republic to galvanize support from the West African country. If that news is eventually accurate, it makes much strategic sense because we would be sure that Buratai would put his wealth of knowledge to bear, especially in addressing some of the issues of concern for the country regarding Boko Haram getting logistics support outside the country.

I also wish to emphasize that Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai remain an asset to the county because of his deep foresight on national security. I am sure many do not know. He is also a military historian. It is thus good that he has offered himself once again in service to the country. I dare say that not many would be readily available because he just left one of the most daunting offices in the country in retirement.

It was expected that he would devout his retirement time with his family, but that is not the case, as he has continued in service to the country. I think it high time the country celebrates such individuals. His records in the Nigerian Army are exceptional. Under his tenure, substantial gains were recorded in the war against insurgency and other forms of criminalities.

This act is what I would call patriotism, and I believe with time, all those that saw him in a different light would come around to appreciate him for his display of love for the country. The example of Buratai is one in many cases of Nigerians that have been committed to the growth and development of the country, but he stands out hence this article.

I also need to remind us that such practices are prevalent in developed nations, where individuals with outstanding public records remain helpful to the country even in retirement. And Nigeria should not be left out because the security challenges in the country require that we explore all available avenues towards the restoration of peace and stability.

This, in my opinion, would significantly provide answers to the national security question in the country when we realize that times have changed and there is the need for regional and international collaboration in addressing security challenges.

To put it simply, the involvement of the likes of Buratai with years of experience would assist in no small measure in ensuring that the question of galvanizing regional support for Nigeria in the war against insurgency at the diplomatic level is achieved.

At this point, Nigerians must come to terms with the reality that guns and tanks are not the only potent weapon of war. Diplomacy also plays a critical role. Diplomacy translates military triumph into new arrangements. It implies war planning and the conduct of war in accordance with a strategy that unites political, economic, informational, and intelligence measures with military actions and a well-crafted plan for war termination.

Diplomacy is also the art of pursuing internationally possible. It involves the unpleasant task of interacting persuasively with usually disagreeable adversaries and sometimes tedious friends. I am reminded of the story of a former US ambassador to the Soviet Union, Mac Toon, who went aboard an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean for a meeting with the admiral who commanded its battle group. At the end of their discussion, the admiral leaned over to ask, “What’s it like being an ambassador? I’ve always thought that after I retire, I might want to try it.” Ambassador Toon replied, “that’s funny. I’ve always thought that, when I retire, I might try my hand at running a carrier battle group.” The admiral said, “That’s ridiculous. A naval command requires years of training and experience.” But so do the management of foreign policy and diplomacy if the ship of state is not to be sailed onto the rocks or beached in the desert.

In the case of Nigeria, if we build a diplomatic capability with our neighbours to match our military prowess, we will gain a fundamental building block of national strategy towards addressing the Boko Haram insurgency in the country. And this, in my considered opinion, represents what the ambassadorial appointments of the likes of Buratai would avail the country.

Therefore the time to act is now in our quest towards bringing the Boko Haram insurgency to an end. I can vouch that we are on the right course with a man like Buratai and his wealth of experience. Needless I say more.

Bonaventure is a public affairs analyst and wrote from Badagry.

SERAP Sues FG, Lai Mohammed Over ‘Repressive’ Directive Asking Broadcasters To Stop Using Twitter

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SERAP Sues FG, Lai Mohammed Over ‘Repressive’ Directive Asking Broadcasters To Stop Using Twitter

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit asking the Federal High Court in Abuja “to stop the Federal Government and the Minister of Information and Culture, Mr. Lai Mohammed from using their patently unlawful directive to all TV and radio stations not to use Twitter, and to delete their accounts as a pretext to harass, intimidate, suspend or impose criminal punishment on journalists and broadcast stations simply for using social media platforms.”

The suit followed the order by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) asking TV and radio stations to “suspend the patronage of Twitter immediately”, and telling them to delete ‘unpatriotic’ Twitter after the social media giant was banned in the country for deleting President Muhammadu Buhari’s tweet.

In the suit number FHC/ABJ/CS/496/2021 filed last Friday, SERAP is seeking: “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the government of President Buhari, the NBC, and Mr Lai Muhammed and any other persons from censoring, regulating, licensing and controlling the social media operations and contents by broadcast stations, and activities of social media service providers in Nigeria.”

In the suit, SERAP is also seeking “an order setting aside the directive by NBC and Mr Lai Muhammed asking broadcast stations to stop using Twitter, as it is unconstitutional, unlawful, inconsistent and incompatible with the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended], and the country’s obligations under the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.”

SERAP is arguing that “The government of President Buhari, the NBC and Mr. Lai Muhammed have consistently made policies and given directives to crack down on media freedom, and the rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression and access to information, and to impose crippling fines and other sanctions on broadcast stations without any legal basis whatsoever.”

According to SERAP: “The court has an important role to play in the protection and preservation of the rule of law to ensure that persons and institutions operate within the defined ambit of constitutional and statutory limitations.”

SERAP is also arguing that “Where agencies of government are allowed to operate at large and at their whims and caprices in the guise of performing their statutory duties, the end result will be anarchy, licentiousness, authoritarianism and brigandage leading to the loss of the much cherished and constitutionally guaranteed freedom and liberty.”

According to SERAP: “By using the National Broadcasting Act and the Nigeria Broadcasting Code to stop broadcast stations from using Twitter without recourse to the court, the NBC and Mr Lai Muhammed have contravened the right to access to justice and fair hearing guaranteed under sections 6[1] & [6][b] and 36[1] of the Nigerian Constitution 1999, and articles 1 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Kehinde Oyewumi, and Opeyemi Owolabi, read in part: “The directive by the NBC and Mr. Lai Muhammed to broadcasters to delete their Twitter accounts is unlawful, as it amounts to a fundamental breach of the principle of legality, the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom, and incompatible with the country’s international human rights obligations.”

“SERAP and concerned Nigerians are entitled to the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom subject only to lawful restrictions. SERAP and concerned Nigerians frequently rely on the Twitter handles of many broadcast stations as sources of information for our activities in the promotion of transparency and accountability in the country.”

“Nigeria is a state party to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which impose legal obligations on the government of President Buhari to ensure that the rights of Nigerians to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom are respected, promoted, protected, fulfilled, and not unlawfully restricted.”

“The NBC and Mr. Lai Muhammed have not shown any law breached by journalists, broadcast stations and media houses in Nigeria, and the government of President Buhari cannot use any disagreement with Twitter as a ploy to violate Nigerians’ rights and undermine their individual businesses and professional duties.”

“The drafters of the Nigerian Constitution well knew the danger inherent in special executive and legislative acts which take away the life, liberty, or property of particular named persons. They intended to safeguard the people of this country from punishment without trial by duly constituted courts. These principles are so fundamental and must be respected.”

“The directive to broadcast stations has seriously undermined the ability of Nigerians and other people in the country to freely express themselves in a democracy, and undermined the ability of journalists, media houses, broadcast stations, and other people to freely carry out their professional duties.”

“The Twitter accounts by broadcast stations and media houses are their own properties acquired upon privity of terms and conditions formulated by the Twitter Inc. and accepted by the stations and media houses.”

SERAP is also asking the Federal High Court for the following reliefs:

1. A DECLARATION that the directive by the NBC and Mr. Lai Muhammed to broadcast stations in Nigeria to deactivate their Twitter handles and desist from using Twitter as a source of information gathering is unlawful, and amounts to a breach of the principles of legality and no punishment without law, and violation of the rights to freedom of expression, access to information, and media freedom guaranteed under sections 39 and 22 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 [as amended], Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

2. A DECLARATION that the acts of the NBC and Mr. Lai Muhammed in relying on the National Broadcasting Act and the Nigeria Broadcasting Code to unilaterally direct broadcast stations to delete their Twitter handles and desist from using Twitter without recourse to the court amount to an infringement on sections 6[1] & [6][b], 36 and 44[1] of the Nigerian Constitution of 1999 [as amended], Articles 1 and 7 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

3. A DECLARATION that the provision of section 2[1][r] of the National Broadcasting Act and sections 5.6.3, 5.11.3 of the Nigeria Broadcasting Code being inconsistent and incompatible with sections 36[1], 39, and 22 of the Nigerian Constitution, Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and Article 19 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights are null and void to the extent of their inconsistency and incompatibility.

4. A DECLARATION that the NBC and Mr. Lai Muhammed lack the power and authority to unlawfully impose penalties such as fines and other sanctions on any journalists and broadcast stations for using Twitter, and refusing/failing to deactivate their Twitter handles.

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

NAF Trains Personnel To Tackle Incessant Aircraft Crashes

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NAF Trains Personnel To Tackle Incessant Aircraft Crashes

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has commenced the re-training of personnel in order to ensure the safety of its crew, as part of efforts to tackle the incessant air mishaps in the Nigerian military.

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This followed the recent crashes that claimed the lives of at least 18 military officers, including the late immediate past Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Ibrahim Attahiru.

Addressing reporters on Saturday, NAF Director of Training, Air Commodore Esen Efanga, explained that the Chief of Air Staff approved the training to enable the crew to be up to speed with global best practices and reduce human factors that cause air crashes.

He said, “We have discovered that in the world, most of accidents and incidents have bee attributed to human factors which the human being is the most critical aspect of the aviation sector.

The crash of Nigeria Air Force B350i | The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News — Opinion — The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

“We have also discovered that most of the accidents do not have to do with the technical abilities of the crew, but rather the interface between the human-and-human, and the human-and-the-aircraft.”

“Because at this point, we are involved in several operations all over the country, this does not come without risks that we have seen in the air force of recent involving incidents and accidents,” Efanga added.

He disclosed that the training was the first in a series of training that would be carried out in all operational units at various centres all over the country.

The air commodore stated that the crew were trained by very seasoned and experienced resource persons who were certified to impart such knowledge.

“It is the Chief of Air Staff’s intention to establish a culture of safety in the Nigerian Air Force so that while we have increased and enhanced our operations, we take care of this critical aspect of NAF operations,” he said.

On May 21, the nation was thrown into mourning after the death of Lieutenant General Attahiru broke.

Attahiru, who was appointed as the Chief of Army Staff in January, died in a plane crash in Kaduna alongside 10 other personnel of the Nigerian Army and Nigerian Air Force.

The incident was preceded by two other crashes – the first being Beechcraft KingAir B350i which crashed at Bassa village in Abuja while en route to Minna, killing seven NAF personnel in the process.

Personnel on board the plane had reported an engine failure and were on their way back to the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport before the aircraft crashed.

About six weeks after the crash, a NAF Alpha Jet aircraft went missing while on an operation in Borno State and was found to have crashed days later.

The aircraft lost contact with radar on March 31 while on an interdiction mission in support of ground troops fighting insurgency in the state.

Nigerian Military Retires 343 Personnel After A Successful Career

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Nigerian Military Retires 343 Personnel After A Successful Career

 

The Armed Forces of Nigeria (AFN) has retired 343 Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs) after successful careers in their various services.

The retirement was announced by the Chief of Defence General, Gen. Lucky Irabor at the Nigerian Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, NAFRC, at the end of six months of pre-retirement training on Saturday.

The 343 retired personnel are made up of 258 from the Nigerian Army (NA); 70 from the Nigerian Navy (NN) and 15 from the Nigerian Air Force (NAF).

Irabor, represented by the Chief of Defence, Training and Operations, Rear Admiral George Eyo, said that the pre-retirement course was designed to prepare the retired personnel for civil life.

“It is our hope that on completion of this training, our gallant discharging servicemen and women seated here today will apply the knowledge and skills they have acquired and by so doing, comfortably enjoy the post service life.

“You will from now on take full charge as planners and executors of your personal daily activities, This may sound exciting and promising but beware; you need to properly manage your freedom in order to be successful.

“The society will expect a high moral standard and discipline from you. You will also have to prove in your relationships that you passed through a highly disciplined system. As our well-grounded ambassadors, I believe you are all capable of excelling in your future endeavors and positively influence your environment for the economic development of our dear country,” the Chief of Defence Staff said.

He urged them to use the various entrepreneurial, business development and management skills they had learned to be developed economically.

Travellers stranded, as protesters blocked Abuja-Kaduna highway over incessant bandit attacks

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Travellers stranded, as protesters blocked Abuja-Kaduna highway over incessant bandit attacks

Many travellers are currently stranded on the Abuja-Kaduna Highway as angry residents have blocked the road over attacks, especially the killing of a 13-year-old girl by bandits.

The tragic incident occurred at Anguwar Magaji in Chikun Local Government Area of the state, according to Daily Trust. Residents said bandits stormed the house of the village head and abducted his family as well as other persons in the community. A resident of the area told Daily Trust that they were not safe at home and their farms.

“We cannot go to our farms and yet they will follow us to our homes to abduct us for ransom. They killed a 13-year-old girl, a security man in the village as well as abducted other residents including the family of the village head,” he said. He explained that the residents only want security or to be allowed to protect themselves against the bandits.

A witness told Daily Trust that the protesters refused to listen to the plea of security personnel who approached them. The witness, who did not want to be named, said the protesters have been out since 7:30am. “The villagers are very angry. They blocked the road and insisted that no one will pass through. When security personnel came, the men withdrew and left their women on the road.”

The Police Public Relations Officer in Kaduna, ASP Jalige Mohammed, said the State commissioner of police, Umar Muri, has directed the Area Commander to visit the scene of the protest and ensure orderliness

 

Anti-graft War: EFCC, CCB To Strengthen Collaboration

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Anti-graft War: EFCC, CCB To Strengthen Collaboration

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) are to strengthen their collaboration in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

Speaking while receiving a delegation from the CCB led by its chairman, Prof. Isah Mohammed in his office, the executive chairman of the EFCC, Abdulrasheed Bawa, promised to assist the CCB in training staff of the Bureau in the areas of administration, assets tracing and recovery as well as forensic investigation.

He also offered CCB access to the Commission’s Forensic Laboratory for analysis pending when it is able to establish its own laboratory.
According to him, “We have a full-fledged Forensic Laboratory that can assist you rather than venture into something that will further burden the budget.”

The offer was in response to the request by CCB chairman, who specifically called for EFCC’s assistance to the Bureau in the areas of assets tracing and recovery, forensic investigation and collaborative investigation.

The EFCC boss said officials from the Commission’s academy will visit the CCB to carry out a training needs assessment which will assist them in designing programmes that will suit the needs of the CCB.

Bawa commended the CCB for her response to requests for assets declaration forms of politically exposed persons by the commission.

He, however, appealed that the process be further expedited. “We have this problem of delay in response. We understand that some of these forms are being declared at state level but we still believe that it takes too long a time for us to receive these responses,” he said.

The EFCC chairman further advised the CCB to explore the possibility of revising the assets declaration form to eliminate gaps that are currently exploited by public officers to withhold inform on their assets.

Earlier in his remarks, Prof. Mohammed commended Bawa “for the brilliant way he approach matters”, adding that they were at the EFCC “to collaborate and make sure that the fight against corruption succeed.”

Reflecting on the history of his agency as the pioneer anti-graft agency in Nigeria, the CCB chair lamented that despite its age, CCB was the most challenged among the anti-corruption agencies in terms of funding.

He also dispelled the notion that the Bureau was secretive in its handling of asset declaration forms of public officers, adding that it had always responded to requests from relevant agencies.

Widow who reportedly refused to drink bathwater of husband’s corpse in Anambra gets govt. backing

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Widow who reportedly refused to drink bathwater of husband’s corpse in Anambra gets govt. backing

Reprieve came the way of one Mrs Chioma Asomugha, 34, from Ubahuekem in Ihiala of Anambra State, who claimed she was forced to drink the bathwater of her late husband’s corpse by her in-laws.

The in-laws, according to her, suspected that she killed her husband, and drinking the water would prove her innocence or guilt.

Such was the practice in the olden days among some Igbo communities when a wife was suspected to have killed her husband.

The woman who did not die within a month after drinking the water was believed not to have killed the husband.

According to Mrs Asomugha, she lived peacefully with her late husband, Charles, at Ojo area of Lagos before he died.

She said, “We have four children. We lived at Ajangbadi, Ojo area of Lagos. The burial was fixed for Monday June 14, but since we came home for the burial, the relatives of my husband forced me out of my matrimonial home.

“They insisted that before I would be allowed to come in, that I would drink the water used in bathing his corpse.”

However, succour came her way on Friday as the Anambra State commissioner for social welfare, women and children’s affairs, Lady Ndidi Mezue, and her information and public enlightenment counterpart, Mr C-Don Adinuba, waded into the matter.

Lady Mezue, during a visit to the family, advised the family members to do away with such obnoxious practices and learn to forgive one another.

Mr Friday Asomugha, brother to the deceased, however, denied that the family compelled the widow to drink the bathwater of her husband’s corpse.

According to him, one of their relatives made such statement out of anger because the widow left behind their four children when she returned for the burial.

According to reports, the burial eventually went ahead without any problem.

In a speech, Mr C-Don Adinuba, a native of the community, called for the protection of the image of the community as well as the state by doing away with archaic and harmful practices capable of tarnishing the image of society.

The widow was presented with some food items during the visit.

Our correspondent reports that matter attracted the attention of the Catholic Church, International Federation of Women Lawyers, and the National Human Rights Commission.

 

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