WHEN HISTORY BECOMES WITNESS.

Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu

By Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu.

I shall continue to have a running gun-less battle with some Esan writers and opinion builders both at home and abroad on the choice of words they throw to the public space. I often reminded them that they are creating millions of enemies for our people and not fighting the war of marginalization from a strategic angle. Let ask ourselves these pertinent questions.

Where are our leading political parties' leaders that sit and dine with parties' state and federal stakeholders in this country? Have they made any collective press release titled for or against the marginalization of Esan people?

Some days ago, a friend reminded me of the tragedy of keeping quiet by men who should know better in times of crisis. He reminded me of the calamity that will befall a society when real men choose to be neutral and complacent in times of great moral crisis. He reminded me that evil triumph in every nation when good and thinking men do nothing. In the history book;

“The story is usually told of how years after the devastation of Germany in WW2. There was a meeting of German Egg Heads. And the question was how did it come to past that a nation that produced Great Thinkers like Friederich Niettzshe.. Karl Max …Albert Einstein….Bruno Bauer. Friederich Engels… Etc ..etc…get seized and goaded into ultimate destruction by a loony like Hitler… Who was not even originally German but Austrian! The thinkers came up with the conclusion that complacency and indifference until it became too late … Was the main cause!”

The blame was put squarely on the inability of the German political class and the elite to rise up to the challenges of Hitler and his collaborators. The consequences of their inability to call a spade a spade resulted in the death of 20 million people and the massive destruction of property worth several billions of dollars. The rest is now history!

Let me resist the temptation of harping on the missed opportunities before the present day marginalization of Esan people. In Nigeria politics, the Esan persons are the mathematical political Jews of Nigeria —gifted, aggressive, outspoken and intelligent. These attributes are more than enough to enable the Esan people to enjoy steady political power and development in Nigeria. Unfortunately, that has not been the case. The tragedy, regrettably, is that there is no tangible development in Esan land besides primitive accumulation of wealth by the individual politicians themselves.

In fact, it’s better to declare here, instead of begging the issue that the blowing wind has exposed the anus of the fowl for all to see- The neutral status of our political leaders in the face of Esan marginalization.

The free play ground exhibited by our political leaders for the perpetrators of the present day marginalization of Esan people especially the alarming disunity among Esan political leaders in all political parties across Edo state caused the continued oppression and intimidation that the Esan people swallow daily.

However, the Edo North and Edo South can rejoice today and dance to the "kukuruku music". A bad seed has been planted today and the Esan people is hard punched. Whoever orchestrated this plot should not rejoice for too long. Trust, Esan people has learnt their lessons and wiser now. When the tide change, prosperity will definitely remember this era in history. Oh! yes, "History is my witness."

...to be continued.

TERRORISM IN SPAIN: What happens in Barcelona.

-Spanish police kill suspects in second attack after 13 die in Barcelona.

Loud News Crew Report.

BARCELONA-Spanish police say they have shot dead five suspected terrorists in the town of Cambrils in a second vehicle attack, hours after another in Barcelona killed 13 people and injured dozens.

Police said the men were linked to the Barcelona attack, which so-called Islamic State said it had carried out.

Police are still hunting the man who drove his van into crowds on Las Ramblas in Barcelona on Thursday.

Spanish media have named Moussa Oubakir, 18, as the suspect.

He is the brother of Driss Oubakir, whose documentation was allegedly used to rent the van involved in the attack.

Spanish PM Mariano Rajoy has condemned what he called a "jihadist attack". He has announced three days of national mourning and a minute's silence was held at noon (10:00 GMT) on Friday.

What happened in Cambrils?

The vehicle overturned in the attack.

Seven people, including a police officer, were wounded when a car was driven into them early on Friday, Catalan emergency services said. One person is in a critical condition.

The attackers' vehicle overturned and when the men got out they were quickly fired upon by police, media say. One was reportedly brandishing a knife.

The men were wearing explosive belts, police said, and a series of controlled explosions was carried out. The belts proved to be fake, Catalan regional head Carles Puigdemont later told local radio.
Police say the situation in Cambrils - a popular seaside resort 110km (68 miles) south-west of Barcelona - is now under control.

What happened on Las Ramblas?

A rented van was driven down Las Ramblas, a popular street in the centre of the city on Thursday afternoon, mowing down tourists and locals.

What was it like to be caught up in the Barcelona attack?

Witnesses said the van deliberately targeted people, weaving from side to side.

The driver of the van, believed to be the sole attacker, fled on foot and is still being hunted by police.
Las Ramblas is a central boulevard that runs 1.2km (0.75 miles) through the centre of Barcelona from the city's Plaça de Catalunya (Catalonia Square) to the Christopher Columbus monument at the seafront.

A businessman from New Orleans, who was just arriving in a taxi in Las Ramblas, said: "I heard a crowd screaming. It sounded like they were screaming for a movie star.

"I saw the van. It had already been busted on the front. It was weaving left and right, trying to hit people as fast as possible. There were people lying on the ground."

Kevin Kwast, who is on holiday in Barcelona with his family, said: "I was eating with my family in La Boqueria market very near where the crash occurred.

"Hundreds of people started stampeding through the market... we started running with them going outside right into where casualties were already on the ground.

"Police pushed us into a money transfer shop and we've been sheltering there for over an hour."

Who were the victims?

Citizens of some 24 countries were killed or injured in the Las Ramblas attack, the Catalan government has said.

Spaniard Francisco López Rodríguez, in his 60s, is the first named victim.

One Belgian national has also been confirmed dead.

France's foreign ministry said on Friday that 26 French nationals were injured, with at least 11 in a serious condition.

A five-year-old Irish boy suffered a broken leg.

Hong Kong, Taiwan and Greece are among those saying their citizens were injured. German, Pakistani, Philippine, Venezuelan, Australian, Romanian, Peruvian, Dutch, Danish, Algerian and Chinese nationals were also among the casualties, officials said.

Have arrests been made?

Police released this photo of  Driss Oubakir, whose documents were used to rent the van
Two people were detained on Thursday over the Las Ramblas attack, but not the driver of the van.
One of those held is Driss Oubakir, whose documents were used to rent the van, local media say.

They say he is in his 20s, and was born in Morocco. However, latest reports suggest he has told police he was not involved, and that his documents were stolen.

Spanish media report that his younger brother, Moussa, rented two vans, the one used in the attack and another found hours later in the town of Vic, north of Barcelona, and intended as a getaway vehicle.

The second man arrested was born in Melilla, the autonomous Spanish city on the north coast of Africa. He has not been named.

On Friday, police announced a third arrest had been made in the Catalan town of Ripoll.

So-called Islamic State has said it was behind the Las Ramblas attack, saying in a brief statement carried by its Amaq news outlet that it was carried out by "Islamic State soldiers". The group gave no further evidence or details to back this claim.

What is the timeline of events?

Alcanar, Wednesday evening: An explosion rips through a house in the small town, 200km south of Barcelona. One person dies. Police chief Josep Lluis Trapero said it appeared the residents at the house had been "preparing an explosive device". A Catalan government official says a cell may have intended to use gas canisters in the Las Ramblas attack.

Barcelona, Thursday 16:50 (14:50 GMT): A white Fiat van drives down Las Ramblas in central Barcelona, killing 13 people and injuring scores. The driver flees on foot.

Vic, Thursday 18:30: Police find a second van, thought to be a getaway vehicle, in the town, 80km north of Barcelona.

Sant Just Desvern, Thursday 19:30: A car is driven into officers at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Barcelona. A man is found dead in the car but the interior ministry denies earlier reports he was killed by police gunfire. The dead man is not believed to be linked to the Las Ramblas attack, officials say, but investigations are ongoing.

Cambrils, Friday 01:00: A second vehicle attack takes place in the resort south of Barcelona. Police kill five terrorist suspects said to be linked to the Las Ramblas attack.

Politics: The Fat-Grown Houseboy Turns Legislator.

fighting session of legislators

By Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu. 

Firstly, the educational qualification of an average legislator in Nigeria according to our constitution is "at least school certificate level" but the grade of such school was silent.

According to Section 106 (c) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999), any Nigerian citizen can be a member of a State House of Assembly provided such a citizen “has been educated up to at least the School Certificate level or its equivalent.” There is no additional information as to what the constitution means by “school” which suggests that persons educated up to the primary school level or possesses kindergarten school`s certificate qualify. This is a legal argument yet clarified.

The constitutional provision virtually allows anybody to be a member of the legislature in our nation called Nigeria. Under this provision, the rich citizens sponsor their wives, children, house helps, errand boys, relations, cooks and other malleable persons to the legislature to be used for selfish jobs. For such legislators, the content of a bill or motion on the floor of the legislature is not their business; theirs is to vote in favor of their sponsor’s position on any bill. If amounts to fighting, so be it.

Such legislators that front for a master can never consider the high degree of suffering occasioned by unemployment, economic recession in the country, decay infrastructure in their environments or communities, nonpayment of staff salaries, pension and gratuity of retirees in the state or Nigeria. No, what matters to the legislators is a befitting farewell package for themselves and their masters' interest.

Like the free for all fight that took place in Edo State House Assembly when the speaker, Hon. Justin Okonoboh was impeached yesterday,, 14th August, 2017, although state governor and other party leaders would try to dissociate themselves from such acts, they are never able to disabuse the minds of the public over rumors of how much each legislator got to function like an over-grown house-boy. It can't just happen in Nigeria for free. Material inducements must be involved and their alleged inducement often runs into millions of naira which I see as a recklessness which is part of what has brought our economy to its current recessional status.

…to be continued.

LG POLLS: I would tame youth restiveness through the creation of job opportunities if elected- Kelly Udebhulu.

Marvis Irabor reports.

BENIN CITY-Ahead of the yet-to-be-announced local government polls in Edo State, a chairmanship aspirant for Esan West Local Government Area, Kelly O. Udebhulu has promised to operate an all inclusive government.

In a chat with our reporter in Benin city yesterday, Udebhulu said he is in the chairmanship race to bring the needed development to his people.

"I am not out to make empty promises; they should see me as somebody on a mission to bail them out of poverty. I will carry everybody along if elected as the next chairman of Esan west local government area. Our people need not suffer.” He assured.

He continued that his wide exposure to life and knowledge would play vital roles in his government.

"I have the understanding that quality education has a direct bearing on national prestige, greatness and cohesion. The knowledge and skill that young people acquire help determine their degree of patriotism and contribution to national integration and progress. The prohibitive cost of acquiring education is part of the causes of youth restiveness in our local government area.

"The after effect of this situation is that thousands of young people roam the streets. Those who manage to complete secondary school have no opportunities for tertiary education. Having been denied the chance to reach their potential, they are disorientated and readily available for anti-social actions." He disclosed.

A community based philanthropist-turned politician, Kelly Udebhulu stated that if elected his agenda would be people oriented administration.

"Sadly, rarely do people in Esan west local government participate in decision-making processes on issues that affect their lives." He lamented.

He assured his people that he would tame youth restiveness through the creation of job opportunities if elected that poverty is another major cause of youth restiveness and promised to address it if elected by his people.

“I will give adequate attention to women and youths in the locality by empowering them. Our people have suffered enough hence I am out to alleviate their plight.” He said.

“I will create the enabling environment in Esan West Local Government Area as the council chairman and when there is peace, investors will not be scared to come and invest in the area. I am out to make a change in Esan west Local Government Area,” the Chairmanship aspirant stated.

Kelly Udebhulu assured his teaming supporters that his chances of picking the party ticket and emerging the next chairman of Esan west local government area are very bright,” he concluded.

Combating Crime in Nigeria: An Unsung Hero Within the Nigeria Police Force.

By Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu.

Often we hear of major crack downs on crimes and criminality by the Nigeria Police Force and we hardly know what becomes of the brains and minds behind the brave acts. Do these great men and women of the Force swim in the tide of encouragement or sink in the trials of unrecognised recognition in an institution that is in dire need of mental attitude boost for their officers and men?

The story of CSP Patrick Ejedawe as a doughty policeman of note within the records of the force's officer corps has many knots, but the most recent is the one that has to do with how he mopped up the Atrocious acts of nefarious Kidnap Kingpin, Evans, in Edo and Lagos states.

The then Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State, at the fifth Town Hall Meeting on Security in Lagos in 2011, said that *no honour was too big for those who placed their lives ``on the line for others to have comfort.`` When he said this, it was in deference to and in appreciation for CSP Patrick Ejedawe. At this event, the then beloved Governor presented him with an award for *gallantry, courage and bravery*

Establishing public safety is among Federal, State and Local government’s fundamental obligations to its citizens. The safety and security of one’s person property are widely viewed as basic human rights and are essential to the community’s overall quality of life. When the citizenry is not, and does not feel, reasonably safe, other critical government functions such as economic development, government finance, public education, stable housing, and basic local government services become that much more difficult to provide.

There is increased demand for accountability from and within police system; advancements in technology, emergence of new crime types, recession measures, and a plethora of additional challenges place a huge demand on all the resources of the Nigeria Police Force especially the mental one, and where do we expect the right response to these challenges to come except in the men and women of the Force? Even if we were blessed with the most sophisticated equipment for policing in our land we would still need individual officers and men to do the job . However the story of our police is one in which we all see them steeply challenged in a manner that places them in the disadvantaged position when a call against crime is made. So how does an institution like the Nigeria police Force operate in such conditions? One answer lies in leadership. Leadership is one of the most important predictors of whether any institution is able to effectively function in dynamic environments. This is why the police cannot afford to leave their dynamic officers and men to feel dampened.

In all capacities and Police commands where Patrick Ejedawe has served, his style of leadership is worth emulating. He sees himself as a Police Officer. He plays a central role in the law enforcement system. He monitors criminal activities, takes part in patrols, respond to emergency calls, makes arrests, investigates crimes and testifies in court as needed. Still there is so much more to know about him. Let me try.

Investigation revealed that when nefarious kingpin, Evans’ activities became so troubling in Edo state, the then Inspector -General of Police, MD Abubakar, deployed one of his key operatives, Patrick Ejedawe, who was the Commander of Mopol 2 Squadron Command, Lagos, to Edo State, to track him and his members down.

It was learned that SP Patrick Ejedawe, now a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), who was senior to other officers then that are now Assistant Commissioners of Police (ACPs) and Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) respectively;  mopped up all members of the gang except Evans, Hunch-man and Sudo, who fled to Ghana.

It is also on record how Patrick Ejedawe saved the lives and money of a bank in Lagos during a bank robbery incident in Lagos state under his Command as Commander MOPOL 2, Keffi, Lagos. In one of the breath-taking tactical displays of bravery as Squadron Commander, Mopol 2, Lagos; Patrick Ejedawe got information about an attempt to rob a bank, in response, he strategically positioned his men at various points within the banking premises, waiting for the robbers to strike. His strategy worked professionally. The robbers had planned to smuggle their weapons into the bank using a computer processing unit, which the security guard involved was expected to carry into the banking hall. On Thursday, May 10, 2012 at about 1700hrs, One Sodiq Yinusa ‘m’ was arrested at the vicinity of the bank while waiting for the other members of his gang to attack the bank. Based on the confession of the arrested robber. 

Investigation also revealed that O’C SARS was drafted to join Commander Mopol 2 Keffi, SP Patrick Ejedawe, to arrest other members of the gang in their respective hideouts. Their combined efforts led to the arrest of one Arnold Dokpesi ‘m’, Sunday Orukpe ‘m’, Timi Bozime ‘m’, Matanmi Oladipupo ‘m’ and Adesida Kehinde ‘m’. Two locally made pistols recovered and 11 numbers of 99mm live ammunition were recovered from Arnold Dokpesi and Sunday Orukpe.

The highly decorated policemen, led by Mopol 2 Commander, SP (Now CSP) Patrick Ejedawe, rescued four abducted people in October, 2011 from a criminal syndicate.

To hint at the dire circumstances under which the officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force operate in an atmosphere of sophisticated crime in Nigeria, Squadron Commander Patrick Ejedawe had had to on numerous occasions recover superior weaponry like rocket launchers and other arms and ammunition from kidnappers in Lagos. In a narrative by eyewitness on that fateful day, the unexpected visit of mobile policemen led by the Commander, MOPOL 2, Lagos, Patrick Ejedawe, to Obadore street in Igando area of Lagos, sent shivers down the spines of the residents. Three men reportedly abducted from different areas of Lagos, were met in one of the rooms, blindfolded with their hands tied to the back. To the amazement of all, when a search was conducted in the apartments, a catchment of weapons comprising three rocket launchers and three rockets, eight AK 47 magazines fully loaded with a total of 3,240 rounds of ammunition, four dynamites and assorted charms were discovered in the premises. Two of the suspected kidnappers were also arrested.

It was gathered that the bubble burst for the kidnappers was after one of them, Kenneth Okonkwo, a native of Abia State, was arrested somewhere around Sango area of Ogun State, in his attempt to collect N2.8 million ransom from the family of one of their victims, a medical doctor identified simply as Dr. Godwin Ene, 66, a surgeon. The second victim, Godwin Okonkwo, 56, who spent about three weeks in the kidnapers den, said: “I was on my way home from work on September 15, 2011, when a vehicle accosted me along my street in Okokomaiko area of Lagos State. Four heavily armed men alighted from the vehicle, and I asked them what they wanted. Before I knew what was happening, I was asked to pay ramsome before my release. The third victim, Rodney Agaga , a US based Nigerian who was in the country to invest in a hotel business, said the kidnappers shot at the tires of his car, demobilized it before forcing him inside their vehicle. An initial ransom of N150 million, he said, was demanded by his abductors.

Truth be told, Ejedawe has been honoured by society for his bravery and service to them some of then are both within and outside the Force.

On the 7th June, 2005, he was awarded by the Nigeria Police Force in Lagos presented to him by CP Ade. A. Ajaikaye for gallantry and courage displayed in routing of armed robbers who attacked Standard Trust Bank, PLC, Itire road, Lawanson, Lagos, killing two of the armed robbers and recovered arms, ammunition and other dangerous weapons in the early hour of 5th June, 2005.

In October 26th, 2011, he got another award in Lagos from the Nigeria police Force presented to him by CP Yakubu A. Alkali for gallantry, bravery and dedication to duty that led to the arrest of kidnappers and massive recovery of arms and ammunition, on 8th October, 2011.

Academically, Ejedawe has not failed the Force, it is on record that he emerged top of the class in the Tactical Leadership arm courses always. This is well known in the Force as a prerequisite for promotion.

Leaving the classroom behind and going again to the field of reality, it is worthy of note that in response to the award presented to him and his men by the then Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Raji Fashola, SP (Now CSP) Patrick Ejedawe who led the 20 man police team from the Lagos State Police Command to rescue four kidnapped persons in October, 2011 that instigated this honour, said the award showed that *those in government were watching the activities of policemen*

He said the honour was `highly` appreciated, adding that ``it will make us double our efforts.`` One would wonder if those in the Force were indeed watching the sacrifices of these men with a view to substantially rewarding them.

To this day despite all other acts added to these which prompted the Lagos State Governor to show his respect above, one wonders what the authorities at the Nigeria Police Force have done or are planning to do with gallant police officers like CSP Ejedawe. Accumulating plaques in their homes and offices for their bravery while growth within the ranks of the Force constantly eludes them? Methinks that people who fight right should be pushed upwards so that they can lead others right to fight right. Knowing full well that the best form of leadership is by examples and records, when men and women who have distinguished themselves occupy high ranks in society, those coming after them would see in them the reward of bravery, decency and excellence and then aspiring to be like them, they would go brave, go excellent and go decent. while others who have not come close to his deliveries have gone on to clinch higher ranks. The question is how far up has CSP Ejedawe leadership example pushed him within the ranks in our sacred Police Force? This writer can't provide you the answer.

Ejedawe , a committed officer, pride of his fellow officers and the rank and file of the Force has the in-built capacity of the Police Force to protect the lives and property of citizens. To maintain order, stop lawbreakers on their tracks by hounding them to incarceration so as to face the sad music of their nefarious actions. He has different responsibilities and tactics depending upon the size and structure of the area in which he serves. When such men as this are honoured unreservedly the police Force and the general public watching the scenario would feel warmth within them and naturally feel a commitment to be just, forthright and astute in their jobs. If ever we needed to encourage probity and excellence in our country, it is now.