Politics: Politicians that betray one another because of political positions lack ethics of politics-Kelly Udebhulu

Udebhulu

Ujiagbe Mike reports.

ABUJA-The All Progressives Congress's chairmanship aspirant for Esan west local government council in the forthcoming council elections in the Edo state, Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu pointed out yesterday at a consultative meeting with like minds and friends in Abuja that the major negative factors that have prevented development and stability in our political dispensation in Nigeria is politics of bitterness.

In his words;

"Often times I see politicians killing each other, betraying one another because of political positions or appointments.

"Does politics teach us to destroy one another? Is polities meant to eradicate integrity and love for one another?

"Politicians who destroy and betray each other do so because they lack ethics of politics and true meaning of politics. The fact that you have opponents in your political ambitions should not make you to develop hatred and bitterness towards your opponents.

"A true politician should constantly allow ethics in politics to guide his words and actions."
Prince Kelly Udebhulu stressed further that the essence of politics is to promote one another, enhance development in our society, promote peace and unity and motivate one another to higher heights generally.

"We fail in our political ambitions and positions because of wrong motives in politics. We should constantly emulate God who makes the rain to fall on the just and on the unjust. We should always learn from his faithfulness, love, mercy, and kindness towards his creatures." He said.

He advised that politicians who succeed in any Position should wish others well, overlook the mistakes and short-comings of others, see beyond the now and allow ethics in politics to guide their words and actions.

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: Officer Ugowe Igbinazaka bags award of the most vibrant Police Officer of the Year.

By Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu.

LAGOS- Officer Ugowe Igbinazaka, the Commander of Intelligent, IGP Task Force on Petroleum, Bunkering and other related offences, was conferred with award of bravery, patriotism and the most vibrant Police Officer of the year by The City Pride Achiever's Award, a news portal of Daily Pride at Lagos on Saturday 23rd, 2017.

The award of the year according to the daily pride was in recognition of the selflessness of the recipient and to appreciate Mr. Ugowe’s enormous sacrifices, bravery and patriotism in leading the task force against bunkering and other related offences in Nigeria as well as the efforts of the IGP task force under his leadership to humble criminals across Nigeria since he assumed the leadership position of the IGP task force.

In his acceptance speech, Mr Ugowe thanked God and the organisers. Mr Ugowe Igbinazaka specifically thanked the IGP Mr Idris Ibrahim and CSP Maikaba Ibrahim his boss for given him the opportunity to prove his operational intelligence in bursting/prosecuting pipeline vandals/illegal burgers in Nigeria.

National Security: There is a deliberate sinister agenda by IPOB to provoke the soldiers into killing innocent people in retaliation-Presidency.

…there is a deliberate sinister agenda by IPOB to provoke the soldiers into killing innocent people in retaliation so that Nnamdi Kanu would use the pictures of the victims for international propaganda by the accusing the government of ethnic cleansing against the Igbos with the sole purpose of gaining sympathy.

…A president who has put the nation’s cash cows, the Central Bank and the Ministry of Petroleum in the hands of the Igbo; who has given four out of five states in the subregion senior cabinet posts in his administration, including Foreign Affairs; and Industry, Trade and Investment, and is constructing the Second Niger bridge after years of deceit and false starts cannot be called a hater of the Igbo.

…Malam Shehu wondered why Mrs. Ezekwesili “retreated to the background or lost her voice while IPOB supporters were violently molesting, harassing, attacking and jeopardizing the lives of indigenes and non-indigenes.”

He challenged Mrs. Ezekwesili to explain to Nigerians where the constitution of Nigeria, and international human rights law support the killing and molestation of innocent people in the name of advocacy for self determination.

According to him, “her hypocritical and timid silence while Kanu’s IPOB supporters were engaged in lawlessness and recklessness in violation of his bail conditions is a burden on her credibility as a national crusader who should be courageous to condemn criminality.

This art of using a raincoat while taking a bath is nothing short of self deceit.”

ABUJA – THE presidency Thursday night cautioned the Co-convener of the #BringBackOurGirls Group, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, not to ammunition to any violent group that seems determined to pursue its separatist agitation through reckless and destructive methods.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu in a statement Thursday night told Dr. Ezekwesili to demonstrate a great sense of responsibility in the face of national security challenges posed by the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB incendiary propaganda designed to cause civil unrest in the country.

According to Shehu, “a prominent influencer like Dr. Oby has a moral and patriotic duty not to give ammunition to any violent group that seems determined to pursue its separatist agitation through reckless and destructive methods.

 “While it is convenient for the civil society activist to condemn the military and the government of President Buhari, Mrs Ezekwesili didn’t find it appropriate, even once, to criticise the dangerous and violent propaganda being propagated by the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Oby, as they call her, tweets on everything. Why was she silent on this one?”

 He said that the attacks on soldiers and policemen by IPOB supporters “was most irresponsible, indefensible and reckless” and that nobody in her position “should elevate mobs to the status of rock stars for the sake of playing to the gallery.”

The presidential media aide said while the military are taking all precautions to observe the rules of engagement, “there is a deliberate sinister agenda by IPOB to provoke the soldiers into killing innocent people in retaliation so that Nnamdi Kanu would use the pictures of the victims for international propaganda by the accusing the government of ethnic cleansing against the Igbos with the sole purpose of gaining sympathy.

“A president who has put the nation’s cash cows, the Central Bank and the Ministry of Petroleum in the hands of the Igbo; who has given four out of five states in the subregion senior cabinet posts in his administration, including Foreign Affairs; and Industry, Trade and Investment, and is constructing the Second Niger bridge after years of deceit and false starts cannot be called a hater of the Igbo.”

The statement warned that the politicization of the ongoing military exercise in the subregion, itself in line with similar exercises in the five other geopolitical regions is inimical to the military readiness of the armed forces and the much-desired improved civilian-military relations in the country.

Malam Shehu wondered why Mrs. Ezekwesili “retreated to the background or lost her voice while IPOB supporters were violently molesting, harassing, attacking and jeopardizing the lives of indigenes and non-indigenes.”

He challenged Mrs. Ezekwesili to explain to Nigerians where the constitution of Nigeria, and international human rights law support the killing and molestation of innocent people in the name of advocacy for self determination.

According to him, “her hypocritical and timid silence while Kanu’s IPOB supporters were engaged in lawlessness and recklessness in violation of his bail conditions is a burden on her credibility as a national crusader who should be courageous to condemn criminality.

This art of using a raincoat while taking a bath is nothing short of self deceit.”

He reminded her that “if the Buhari administration could take tough action against the extremist religious groups in the northern parts of the country to preserve national security, it is ridiculous to accuse the President of sending soldiers to the Southeast because he hates the Igbos.

The Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari respects all citizens and will ensure that they are safe and secure wherever they reside.”

Shehu advised her to rise above pettiness and sentiments, and to resist the temptation to play to the gallery, when the country’s national security is under threat, adding that “seeking to make political capital out of a chaotic situation is highly unbecoming of her and of the reputation she has worked hard to build over the years.”

Edo politics: Daylight Robbery by an Enemy is painful in an Enemy's Mind.

Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu

By Prince Kelly O. Udebhulu.

The basic Esan requirement besides infrastructural development in its humanly meaning translates into the desire of the people of the Edo Central Senatorial District to be treated as part of the political caucus of Edo State. It is a call for justice, fair play, and inclusiveness to become the byline of Edo Ethno-organizational structure. However, and recently too, the Esan are being left farther and farther behind in Edo State. The administrative tripod that was "hitherto mutually" shared cum the Edo State House of Assembly's Speaker for the Esan people has been rudely taken away from the Edo central without signs of remorse or guilty conscience by the perpetrators. Even till this day, the victims and the robbers whine and dine joyously while the on- lookers hopelessly weep.

"I freed a thousand slaves. I could have freed a thousand more if only they knew they were slaves" - Harriet Tubman.

This is an offshoot of the enemies of Esan deliberate willingness to alienate the Esan and set them off against their bigger cousins, the Be­nin, to give way to the appearance that there exists a schism between the Esan and their natural allies, the Benin, and to perpetuate their cabals in the political reckoning.

In doing so, the enemies of Esan have forgotten one thing they can’t easily wish away, that the Afemai, Benin and Esan are really one. They have forgotten we are a delta of a single riv­er. We share the same heritage and culture. We share the same language albeit with some dialectical differences. We share the same historical experiences. Our destinies are inextricably bound together and we are the Edos.

Ironically, the enemies of Esan people do not see it this way. They see divisions among Esan political leaders and they are exploiting it to the fullest.

These enemies of Esan people have recruited a coterie of turncoat Esan political leaders to water down efforts by any outspoken Esan political leader or personality that would have fought them to their knees. Thus, you find purported political leaders of Esan within the ranks of the enemies of Esan people embarking on a campaign of calumny against their kinsmen and advancing the cause of the alienation of the Esan people from the political relevance professionally. Many today see them as leaders but of a truth, they are really traitors who are willing to wish away the Esan right and dream for their personal fiefdom and thus hardening the view that the Esan are not politically relevant in Edo state and should be waved aside much like the Igbos at the federal sphere who are perennially denied the presidency by the other major ethnic groups.

It is against this background that I must sound the alarm that unless we regain of agreed political share back and the speakership position given back to Edo central now, we are in for a long dry season. It would take a while before we ever come into po­litical reckoning again, if ever. There is absolutely no reason why any son or daughter should be afraid of the Esan growth and development. Edo is one.

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.