BUHARI, I WILL MISS HIM

The news of the death of former minister of Information and Culture, Prince Tony Momoh who passed on, yesterday, at the age of 82 threw shock waves across the country, especially among the media and political circles. The  veteran journalist, lawyer and politician, served as Nigeria’s minister of Information and Culture  between 1986 and 1990, during the military regime of General Ibrahim Babangida. He was onetime Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council of the University of Jos. 

In January 2011, he became the National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change CPC, which later merged with other political parties to form the now ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

In his reaction through a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the president, Femi Adesina, President Muhammadu Buhari expressed sadness at the passing of the statesman who he described as his longtime ally, friend and political loyalist. Buhari recalled that Momoh stood with him through thick and thin, adding: “His brand of loyalty is very rare in the politics of today. I will greatly miss him.” While condoling with the Auchi Kingdom, the government and people of Edo State on this great loss, the president prayed that God will grant the departed eternal rest and comfort family, friends and political associates in this period of grief. 

Ohanaeze, a house divided on itself

Meanwhile, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, yesterday, said it would not succumb to any form of distraction, especially by those it described as impostors. National Publicity Secretary of the body, Chief Alex Ogbonnia, who said that the George Obiozor-led leadership was focused and determined to make remarkable impacts on the lives of Igbo given the current situation they found themselves in Nigeria, decried attempts by a group that claimed to be a faction of Ohanaeze to frustrate the Igbo agenda. 

Reacting to alleged shutdown of Ohanaeze secretariat by a group, Ogbonnia who had stormed the secretariat in company of the President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Enugu State, Prof. Fred Eze, administration secretary, Eugene Ibeabuchi, and others, said the place was fully functional. He appealed to those still aggrieved at the outcome of the January 10 election of the apex Igbo organisation to have a change of heart and join hands with the Obiozor leadership to work for the interest of the people. 

“We have come to debunk the news circulating in the social media that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo secretariat has been shut down. Really, this is the handwork of mischief makers and social media tigers. This is a desperation taken too far.I don’t know what they want to achieve. My advice is that they should sheath their swords and give support to Prof. George Obiozor, an erudite reflective scholar of world renown with track records of accomplishments. He is a man that will take the Igbo to the next level.”

S’East govs ban open grazing of cows

Chairman of South East Governors Forum and Governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, yesterday, announced that the governors and leaders of the zone had banned open grazing of cattle in all parts of the zone. He made the announcement during an APC stakeholders meeting at the Christian Ecumenical Centre, Abakaliki. “Governors of South East have been calling on our leaders to speak out on the security of the zone and unity of Nigeria. 

I read on paper where someone said he was giving governors of South East seven-days to ban open grazing, the governors of South East had banned open grazing and movement of cows by foot into South East, in each of states of the South East, we are managing ourselves well, what we discussed with the herdsmen is the system in place for a long time. In our forests today, we have the kidnappers, herdsmen, cultists, all sorts of criminals, anybody staying in the forest is taking a risk, when we say that people should move out of the forests, it is for their safety and security, so I support that kidnappers, herdsmen, cultists, and bandits should be flushed out of our forests,” he said.