A human right lawyer, Barr. Monday Ubani has urged the National Assembly to immediately throw out the Hate Speech and Fake News Bill Now currently before it, saying passing such Bill will further dent the image of the government.

Barr. Ubani a former Vice Chairman on NBA spoke at the background of a townhall meeting held in Abuja on hate speech by Daar Communications PLC, which had in attendance the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and other lawmakers.

He took a swipe at the sponsor of the Bill, Sabi Abdullahi for allegedly lying that hate speech Bill has caused many deaths in the country, pointing out that records from global organizations prove otherwise.

“The Sponsors of the two bills that have their objective of curtailing freedom of speech in Nigeria were given time to advance reasons for those bills at this time as a Nation. I must tell you the truth, I was totally disappointed.

“They were pedestrian in their presentation and evidenced their veiled intention to discourage Nigerians from querying the present government through social media.

“Not only were they giving wrong reasons for the bills, they also lied that many lives have been lost in Nigeria due the so called Hate Speech and Fake News in Nigeria.

Statistics of death which occurred for some years caused by criminals in NIGERIA were released recently by one of the international bodies. The main cause of those deaths as shown in the report were attributed to Herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents over the years. At no time was the cause of death attributed to the so called hate speech or fake news carriers in NIGERIA” he said.

While alleging that the Bill is targeted at curtailing press freedom and shield the government from criticism, Barr. Ubani revealed that there are sufficient laws in the country to take care of any infraction of our laws in the social media.

“FOR their information, WE made a choice BY PREFERRING DEMOCRACY to DICTATORSHIP since 1999” he concluded.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC) worldwide has taken a swipe at the the Senator representing Abia South, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe for calling for President Buhari’s resignation over insecurity in Nigeria, saying Buhari alone is not to be held responsible over the spate of insecurity in the country.

OYC in a statement signed by the President General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and the Secretary General, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike made available to ABN TV, expressed surprise that Sen. Abaribe whom they said only empowered his constituents l in 2015 with few free ambulance vehicles for those that died out of hunger and frustration and lotto bet for the youths could be the one to make such call.

The group also applauded South East governors for moves to establish regional security outfit, saying it will check incessant killing, kidnapping, raping and other nefarious activities of bandits in the region.

Read full release below..

Insecurity: Ohanaeze Ndigbo Laud Southeast Governors on Regional Security Outfit…. Mourn Dr Arthur Nwankwo….. Buhari May not Sack Service chiefs

Press Release

(1) Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide Laud the Courageous but Well Conceived idea of South East Governors forum led by Gov Dave Umahi to listen to the Suggestions of OYC and others to float the South East Regional Security Outfit, it’s Timely,a right peg in the right hole, Igbo Youths went agog, received the cheering news as the best measures to get rid of Insecurity challenges emanating from Nefarious activities of herdsmen thriving in the absence of joint co ordination of Security Outfit for the South East, Individual State Owned Security Outfits was restricted by State boundaries, and made it difficult in curbing inter and intra State Crimes comitted by Miscreants,Kidnappers, Bandits and Herdsmen, the incessant Crimes committed during farming seasons especially rape victims mostly Igbo Morhers will be reduced drastically,OYC Urge the South East Governors to inculcate all Stakeholders across-the-board into The regional Security Outfit, as we believe that Amotekun was copied from the Original ideas of South East Security Outfit which was designed by South East Governors, like Amotekun, South West Governors Unleash their Ethnic Militia OPC, OYC advocates the inclusion of Igbo militia, Ebonyi Neighborhood Watch, Enugu Forest Guards, Abia Homeland Security Outfit, Dreaded Bakassi Boys, with the Cordial relationship existing between President Muhammadu Buhari and South East Governors, South East Regional Security Outfit will be a smooth sail, to Get Presidential endorsement of the project which is only intelligence gathering for the Federal Security Agents to curb crime.

(2) OYC frown at the high rate of Insecurity Challenges facing Nigeria and call For the establishment of Regional Security Outfits to Curb insecurity challenges in Various Regions, and it’s the Primary Responsibility of all Governments at All levels to guarantee Security of lives and Properties of her Citizenry, failure of Governance and lack of Commitment to Secure Lives and Properties of Nigerians, are the collective failure of all political Class,If LGA Chairmen do the needful,if Senators and Reps bring Home their Constituency Projects without diverting it for personal gains, President Muhammadu Buhari should not be blamed alone,all politicians are involved,those calling for Buhari’s resignation,had equally failed their Constituency, it’s on record that the Senator only empowered his Constituency in 2015 with Few Free Ambulance Vehicles for those that died out of hunger and frustration and Lotto Bet for the Youths, OYC May lead the moves to recall non performing Igbo Senators, Rather than getting dividends of Democracy to their Constituencies, they only attract Hatred and Enemity to their Constituencies, the manner of by Which National Assembly Communicated to President Muhammadu Buhari to Sack Service Chiefs was Provocative and We Doubt if President Muhammadu Buhari will Listen to Such Advice under these Circumstances, President Buhari should Change Strategy and do the needful as soon as possible.

(3) OYC Mourn with deep regret, the Demise of Dr Arthur Agwuncha Nwankwo,He was a Mentor, philosopher par Excellence, and a Courageous but brave Igbo Leader, whose wealth of knowledge was a compass to millions of Igbo Youths to navigate through most turbulent times and Conquer, Igbo Nation had lost one the few Igbo leaders with Conscience and fearless to speak the truth to Power…adieu Agwuncha,May God grant Your family and Ndigbo the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.

Mazi okechukwu isiguzoro
President General
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide

Mazi Okwu Nnabuike
Secretary General
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide

A human right lawyer, Barr. Monday Ubani has urged the National Assembly to immediately throw out the Hate Speech and Fake News Bill Now currently before it, saying passing such Bill will further dent the image of the government.

Barr. Ubani a former Vice Chairman on NBA spoke at the background of a townhall meeting held in Abuja on hate speech by Daar Communications PLC, which had in attendance the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan and other lawmakers.

He took a swipe at the sponsor of the Bill, Sabi Abdullahi for allegedly lying that hate speech Bill has caused many deaths in the country, pointing out that records from global organizations prove otherwise.

“The Sponsors of the two bills that have their objective of curtailing freedom of speech in Nigeria were given time to advance reasons for those bills at this time as a Nation. I must tell you the truth, I was totally disappointed.

“They were pedestrian in their presentation and evidenced their veiled intention to discourage Nigerians from querying the present government through social media.

“Not only were they giving wrong reasons for the bills, they also lied that many lives have been lost in Nigeria due the so called Hate Speech and Fake News in Nigeria.

Statistics of death which occurred for some years caused by criminals in NIGERIA were released recently by one of the international bodies. The main cause of those deaths as shown in the report were attributed to Herdsmen and Boko Haram insurgents over the years. At no time was the cause of death attributed to the so called hate speech or fake news carriers in NIGERIA” he said.

While alleging that the Bill is targeted at curtailing press freedom and shield the government from criticism, Barr. Ubani revealed that there are sufficient laws in the country to take care of any infraction of our laws in the social media.

“FOR their information, WE made a choice BY PREFERRING DEMOCRACY to DICTATORSHIP since 1999” he concluded.

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council (OYC) worldwide has taken a swipe at the the Senator representing Abia South, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe for calling for President Buhari’s resignation over insecurity in Nigeria, saying Buhari alone is not to be held responsible over the spate of insecurity in the country.

OYC in a statement signed by the President General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro and the Secretary General, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike made available to ABN TV, expressed surprise that Sen. Abaribe whom they said only empowered his constituents l in 2015 with few free ambulance vehicles for those that died out of hunger and frustration and lotto bet for the youths could be the one to make such call.

The group also applauded South East governors for moves to establish regional security outfit, saying it will check incessant killing, kidnapping, raping and other nefarious activities of bandits in the region.

Read full release below..

Insecurity: Ohanaeze Ndigbo Laud Southeast Governors on Regional Security Outfit…. Mourn Dr Arthur Nwankwo….. Buhari May not Sack Service chiefs

Press Release

(1) Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide Laud the Courageous but Well Conceived idea of South East Governors forum led by Gov Dave Umahi to listen to the Suggestions of OYC and others to float the South East Regional Security Outfit, it’s Timely,a right peg in the right hole, Igbo Youths went agog, received the cheering news as the best measures to get rid of Insecurity challenges emanating from Nefarious activities of herdsmen thriving in the absence of joint co ordination of Security Outfit for the South East, Individual State Owned Security Outfits was restricted by State boundaries, and made it difficult in curbing inter and intra State Crimes comitted by Miscreants,Kidnappers, Bandits and Herdsmen, the incessant Crimes committed during farming seasons especially rape victims mostly Igbo Morhers will be reduced drastically,OYC Urge the South East Governors to inculcate all Stakeholders across-the-board into The regional Security Outfit, as we believe that Amotekun was copied from the Original ideas of South East Security Outfit which was designed by South East Governors, like Amotekun, South West Governors Unleash their Ethnic Militia OPC, OYC advocates the inclusion of Igbo militia, Ebonyi Neighborhood Watch, Enugu Forest Guards, Abia Homeland Security Outfit, Dreaded Bakassi Boys, with the Cordial relationship existing between President Muhammadu Buhari and South East Governors, South East Regional Security Outfit will be a smooth sail, to Get Presidential endorsement of the project which is only intelligence gathering for the Federal Security Agents to curb crime.

(2) OYC frown at the high rate of Insecurity Challenges facing Nigeria and call For the establishment of Regional Security Outfits to Curb insecurity challenges in Various Regions, and it’s the Primary Responsibility of all Governments at All levels to guarantee Security of lives and Properties of her Citizenry, failure of Governance and lack of Commitment to Secure Lives and Properties of Nigerians, are the collective failure of all political Class,If LGA Chairmen do the needful,if Senators and Reps bring Home their Constituency Projects without diverting it for personal gains, President Muhammadu Buhari should not be blamed alone,all politicians are involved,those calling for Buhari’s resignation,had equally failed their Constituency, it’s on record that the Senator only empowered his Constituency in 2015 with Few Free Ambulance Vehicles for those that died out of hunger and frustration and Lotto Bet for the Youths, OYC May lead the moves to recall non performing Igbo Senators, Rather than getting dividends of Democracy to their Constituencies, they only attract Hatred and Enemity to their Constituencies, the manner of by Which National Assembly Communicated to President Muhammadu Buhari to Sack Service Chiefs was Provocative and We Doubt if President Muhammadu Buhari will Listen to Such Advice under these Circumstances, President Buhari should Change Strategy and do the needful as soon as possible.

(3) OYC Mourn with deep regret, the Demise of Dr Arthur Agwuncha Nwankwo,He was a Mentor, philosopher par Excellence, and a Courageous but brave Igbo Leader, whose wealth of knowledge was a compass to millions of Igbo Youths to navigate through most turbulent times and Conquer, Igbo Nation had lost one the few Igbo leaders with Conscience and fearless to speak the truth to Power…adieu Agwuncha,May God grant Your family and Ndigbo the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.

Mazi okechukwu isiguzoro
President General
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide

Mazi Okwu Nnabuike
Secretary General
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide

The judgment of the Supreme Court, which sacked Emeka Ihedioha as the Imo State governor and declared Hope Uzodinma as the winner of the 2019 poll was clear and has been implemented, the Independent National Electoral Commission, has stated.

The commission, which stated that it would not speculate on any issue about the apex court’s verdict, also said it was not in a position to review, amend or add to it.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of its Information and Voter Education Committee, Festus Okoye, made the clarification in an interview with The PUNCH in Abuja.

Okoye was reacting to insinuations that the Supreme Court judgment, which brought Uzodinma to power, was constitutionally defective as he reportedly did not get the spread of 25 per cent of the votes in two-thirds of the local government areas in Imo State, according to Section 179 (2) (a) and (b) of the 1999 constitution (as amended).

He said, “The Supreme Court of Nigeria, being the final court in governorship petitions, has given its verdict. The commission is not in a position and is not permitted to review, amend or add to the judgment.

“The commission has given effect to the judgement by issuing Hope Uzodinma with Certificate of Return. The commission will not speculate on any issue as the judgment is clear and has been implemented.”

Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has asked the Inspector General of Police, IGP Muhammed Adamu, and the Director-General, Department of State Services, DSS, Yusuf Bichi, to arrest the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for holding political rallies in the state in spite of the ban placed on such activities by his Administration.

Obaseki spoke through his deputy, Comrade Philip Shuaibu, on Monday in Abuja said a petition to that effect would be submitted to the relevant authorities later in the day.

Details later…

Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has asked the Inspector General of Police, IGP Muhammed Adamu, and the Director-General, Department of State Services, DSS, Yusuf Bichi, to arrest the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for holding political rallies in the state in spite of the ban placed on such activities by his Administration.

Obaseki spoke through his deputy, Comrade Philip Shuaibu, on Monday in Abuja said a petition to that effect would be submitted to the relevant authorities later in the day.

Details later…