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Non-enforcement Of Anti-open Grazing Laws Makes Nigeria Police More Of Fulani Police – HURIWA

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Non-enforcement Of Anti-open Grazing Laws Makes Nigeria Police More Of Fulani Police - HURIWA

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has warned the Inspector General of Police Alhaji Usman Alkali Baba to avoid the danger of the Nigeria Police being seen as Fulani police over their alleged unwillingness to prosecute violators of anti-open grazing laws passed by state Houses of Assembly.

HURIWA said that the IGP should discharge the constitutional responsibilities of his office or else “he will be inducted into the National Hall of Shame and infamy as someone who used his office to serve the selfish, clandestine and parochial interest of the armed terrorists and Fulani herdsmen who have vowed to disobey the lawfully passed legislation in some states in Nigeria which outlaws open grazing of livestock of all genres.”

HURIWA condemned the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami for constituting himself into “a cog in the wheel of the progressive enforcement of the lawfully passed legislation against open grazing of cattle” and urged him to resign forthwith.

HURIWA in a statement by its national coordinator Emmanuel Onwubiko asked the states that enacted the legislation against open grazing of livestock to set up a statewide armed vigilantes to carry out the enforcement of the provisions of the law because the law is constitutionally guaranteed under section 4(7) which authorises State Houses of Assembly to make laws for the good governance and security of the good people of their states.

HURIWA said the states could actually take steps to enforce laws made in their states if Kano State could set up Islamic Police which contravenes sections 10 and 214 of the Nigerian constitution.

“Why are the states waiting for the unwilling IGP who is a willing tool of the oppressors in Abuja to ask their men to respect the law of Nigeria?” HURIWA queried.

READ ALSO: Sanwo-Olu Signs Anti-open Grazing Bill Into Law

Specifically, Section 4 subsection 7 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria of 1999 (as amended) provides that: “Section 4(7) The House of Assembly of a State shall have power to make laws for the peace, order and good government of the state or any part thereof with respect to the following matters, that is to say:-

(a) any matter not included in the Exclusive Legislative List set out in Part I of the Second Schedule to this Constitution.

(b) any matter included in the Concurrent Legislative List set out in the first column of Part II of the Second Schedule to this Constitution to the extent prescribed in the second column opposite thereto; and

(c) any other matter with respect to which it is empowered to make laws in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution.

HURIWA submits that similarly, Section 214. (1) establishes the Police as the policing institution of all parts of Nigeria and not for Fulani herdsmen. Section 214(1) states thus: “There shall be a police force for Nigeria, which shall be known as the Nigeria Police Force, and subject to the provisions of this section no other police force shall be established for the Federation or any part thereof”.

HURIWA stated thus: “The findings made recently by a respected newspaper in Nigeria that the policemen are careful over these new state laws implies that the police operatives paid with tax payer’s money belonging to the good citizens of Nigerians have been brainwashed by some Fulani ethnic warlords embedded within the Abuja’s seat of power not to enforce the laws passed by the different States against public grazing of Livestock.”

HURIWA stated further: “This is a very dangerous threat to Nigeria’s national security and it is even worst because the persons being misused to undermine the security of some states in the Federal Republic of Nigeria are policemen who according to the clear provisions of the constitution are bound to implement lawfully passed laws in all states of the federation and the ethnic interest of the holder of the office of President should not matter in the enforcement’s of the laws of Nigeria”.

“It is disgraceful that t Nigeria Police Force is now an institution led by ethnic warlords who are affiliates of Fulani herders because investigation showed that herders still graze their animals openly in many states that have enacted the anti-open grazing law without being intercepted by law enforcement agents”, HURIWA affirms.

“Reports say in Abia State where Governor Okezie Ikpeazu signed the anti-open grazing law on June 29, 2018, open grazing of cattle, sheep and goats were still practiced following its poor implementation. The Commissioner for Information, Chief John Okiyi Kalu, however, stated that the enforcement of the law is vested in the hands of security agencies, particularly the police.”

READ ALSO: Anti-grazing Bill Becomes Law In Ondo

HURIWA said the decision made specifically on May 11, 2021, by the governors of the 17 southern states, after a meeting in Asaba, the Delta State capital, was constitutionally guaranteed and protected given that the governors resolved to ban open grazing and the movement of cattle by foot in order to curb clashes between farmers and herders in the region.

“The governors had observed that the incursion of armed herders, criminals and bandits in the southern part of the country has created a severe security challenge, such That citizens were no longer able to live their normal lives, including pursuing various productive activities, leading to threats to food supply, general security and sometimes death. Consequently, they resolved that open grazing of cattle should be banned across southern Nigeria via a law enacted by the state Houses of Assembly not later than September 1, this year,” HURIWA added.

The rights group citing media reports recalled that earlier before the Resolution was made by themselves Governors of Southern States of Nigeria, five southern states comprising Ekiti, Ebonyi, Abia, Oyo and Bayelsa had enacted anti-open grazing laws. The resolution prompted six more states in the region to follow suit. These include Rivers, Ondo, Enugu, Akwa-Ibom, Osun and Lagos states. This brings the total number of states in the South that has so far prohibited open grazing in their jurisdictions via legislation to

Additionally,  Delta and Ogun states Houses of Assembly have passed the bill but their governors were yet to give their assent, while in Anambra State, the bill has scaled through the first reading.

HURIWA said the disobedience by the Inspector General of Police Alhaji Usman Alkali Baba to the laws passed by different  states against open grazing of cattle amounts to sabotage and endangers the national security even as the rights group asked the concerned states to cut off all forms of partnership funding support with and to the current distorted structure of the police since it is now clear that the Nigerian Police Force has become the Fulani Police force and thereafter the states should set up armed vigilantes to carry out the enforcement of the anti-open grazing law just as the AMOTEKUN SECURITY NETWORK is doings lawfully in some States of the South West States of Nigeria.

“It is basic and constitutionally binding that the Nigerian Police Force is empowered by the Constitution to carry out the fundamental functions as observed by experts as follows: the Prevention And Detection Of Crimes.

This role of prevention and detection is one of the statutory functions of the Nigerian Police Force. The Nigerian police Force as part of the larger bodies of the law enforcement agencies in the country, do place its  priority in the prevention and detection of crime.

Secondly,  the Protection Of Lives And Properties. Another functions of the Nigerian Police Force is to protect lives and properties. As the law enforcement agency, the Nigerian Police is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that the lives and properties of Nigeriana citizens are protected within their individual domain; thirdly, the duty of Preservation Of Law And Order. Nigerian Police Force is empowered through the instructions from  the directive of the appointing authority to ensure that, there is public order and safety in Nigeria. The Nigerian Police Force must of necessity be ready to carry out the Performance Of Such Military Responsibility Required Of Police Force.

READ ALSO: INEC Insists On Readiness For E-transmission Of Poll Results

Another function of the Nigerian Police is that, it undertakes some of the military responsibilities which may be required of the Police Force by law as part of its functions”.

HURIWA therefore appealed to the Southern Nigeria states to defend the Constitution by compelling the Nigerian Police Force to carry out “its duties and pressures can be mounted if the states cut off all funding components they give to the police, set up state vigilantes and institute a legal challenge to force the Council of State to sack the IGP” just as HURIWA asked the states to stop funding the Police Trust Fund for now.

 

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Why We Won’t Congratulate Oborevwori On Delta Gubernatorial Victory – Deta APC

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URS Congratulates Omo-Agege, Oborevwori On Becoming Governorship Candidates
Omo-Agege and Oborevwori

The Delta All Progressives Congress, (APC), Campaign Council will not congratulate Sheriff Oborevwori on his winning the state gubernatorial election.

To the APC, Oborevwori’s victory at the gubernatorial election held on 18 March, as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is false and thus it stands rejected.

In a statement, Director, Communications and Media Strategy of the council, Ima Niboro, said that Oborevwori’s victory would be overturned by the sheer weight of evidence against it.

The candidate of the PDP, Sheriff Oborevwori, was on Monday, declared winner of the election by INEC.

Mr Oborevwori polled a total of 360,234 votes to defeat his closest opponent, Ovie Omo-Agege of the APC who scored 240,229 votes.

The APC campaign council said it has evidence that the process was characterised by irregularities and that the people of the state were denied the right to freely expressed their will.

“We have an entire arsenal of evidence showing the disenfranchisement of the people, non use of, and tampering with BVAS machines, declaring double results at polling units, issuing of fake result sheets to agents and uploading cooked up results into the BVAS.

“We also have evidence of widespread vote suppression, voter intimidation, thuggery and violence against our supporters. The PDP was at its worst during the election: wickedly denying the people of their will freely expressed at the polls.

“Look at the streets of Delta today. It is gloom everywhere. Our people are wearing long, mournful faces. No sign of jubilation anywhere. Our streets would have been throbbing with life, song and dance, were this the will of the people.This rape of the will of the people will not stand. It must not be allowed to stand,” it said

“We call on our party faithful and supporters to remain calm. Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning,” it said.

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BREAKING: INEC Declares Oborevwori As Delta Governor-elect

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Oborevwori Delta PDP Governorship Candidate
Sheriff Oborevwori

The Speaker of Delta State, Sheriff Oborevwori, on Monday afternoon got official recognition by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) as the winner of last Saturday election.

Oborevwori polled 360,234 votes to defeat the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Deputy Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege.

Omo-Agege scored 240,229 votes while the Labour Party candidate, Kennedy Pela came a distant third with 48,047

Declaring the result at the state Collation Centre in Asaba, Returning Officer in the election, Prof. Abraham Georgewill Owunari said Oborevwori “having satisfied the requirements of the law, is hereby declared winner and returned elected.”

The PDP candidate won in 21 out of the 25 local government areas of the state, leaving Omo-Agege with only four.

A summary of the scores of the political parties are as follow:

Registered voters – 3,221,697
Accredited voters – 710,829

Accord – 930

AA – 66

ADC – 1,482

ADP – 1,081

APC – 240,229

APGA – 11,021

APM – 937

APP – 198

BP – 162

LP – 48,047

NNPP – 791

NRM – 612

PDP – 360,234

PRP -54

SDP – 4,639

YPP – 484

ZLP – 303

VALID votes – 671,737
REJECTED voted – 15,384
TOTAL votes cast – 687,121

Scores in each council by the three leading parties

Ika North-East LGA

Registered voters – 131,945
Accredited voters – 34,807

APC – 4,733
LP – 1,990
PDP – 26,760

Valid votes – 33,807
Rejected votes – 918
Total votes cast – 34,725

Aniocha North LGA

Registered voters – 89,010
Accredited voters – 16,846

APC – 4,386
LP – 1,883
PDP – 8,938

Valid votes – 16,316
Rejected votes – 530
Total votes cast -16,846

Ndokwa East LGA

Registered voters – 86,208
Accredited voters – 20,434

APC – 9,044
LP – 251
PDP – 10,146

Valid votes – 19,843
Rejected votes – 485
Total votes cast – 20,328

Ika South LGA

Registered voters — 100,599
Accredited voters – 27,800

APC – 6,790
LP – 4,495
PDP – 15,283

Valid votes – 27,149
Rejected votes – 651
Total votes cast – 27,800

Patani LGA

Registered voters – 49,385
Accredited voters – 11,421

APC – 4,743
LP – 85
PDP – 6,069

Valid votes – 11,183
Rejected votes – 238
Total votes cast – 11,421

Udu LGA

Registered voters – 143,769
Accredited voters – 26,908

APC – 13,154
LP – 1,886
PDP – 9,746

Valid votes – 26,141
Rejected votes – 575
Total votes cast – 26,716

Sapele LGA

Registered voters – 145,024
Accredited voters – 30,983

APC – 12,090
LP – 1,458
PDP – 15,217

Valid votes – 29,815
Rejected votes – 957
Total votes cast – 30,772

Aniocha South LGA

Registered voters – 100,424
Accredited voters – 21,149

APC – 4,622
LP – 5,107
PDP – 10,032

Valid votes – 20,468
Rejected votes – 603
Total votes cast – 21,071

Uvwie LGA

Registered voters – 191,215
Accredited voters – 31,188

APC – 12,389
LP – 6,340
PDP – 9,776

Valid votes – 30,263
Rejected votes – 925
Total votes cast – 31,188

Okpe LGA

Registered voters – 117,111
Accredited voters – 25,724

APC – 8,679
LP – 1,155
PDP – 14,544

Valid votes – 25,027
Rejected votes – 691
Total votes cast – 25,718

Bomadi LGA

Registered voters – 103,261
Accredited voters – 17,946

APC – 4,728
LP – 100
PDP – 12,340

Valid votes – 17,559
Rejected votes – 379
Total votes cast – 17,938

Ethiope East LGA

Registered voters – 115,003
Accredited voters – 30466

APC – 11,600
LP – 350
PDP – 13,030

Valid votes – 27,814
Rejected votes – 805
Total votes cast – 28,619

Oshimili North LGA

Registered voters – 103,657
Accredited voters – 45,834

APC – 5,327
LP – 2,983
PDP – 35,966

Valid votes – 45,368
Rejected votes – 455
Total votes cast – 45,823

Warri South LGA

Registered voters – 187,140
Accredited voters – 32,959

APC – 11,569
LP – 3,743
PDP – 15,299

Valid votes – 31,768
Rejected votes – 982
Total votes cast – 32,750

Oshimili South LGA

Registered voters – 194,468
Accredited voters – 39,028

APC – 4,763
LP – 10,148
PDP – 23,149

Valid votes – 38,530
Rejected votes – 493
Total votes cast – 39,023

Isoko North LGA

Registered voters – 144,092
Accredited voters – 28,848

APC – 10,811
LP – 894
PDP – 15,899

Valid votes – 28,332
Rejected votes – 503
Total votes cast – 28,835

Ughelli South LGA

Registered voters – 136362
Accredited voters – 36136

APC – 15,620
LP – 571
PDP – 15,513

Valid votes – 34,820
Rejected votes – 574
Total votes cast – 35,394

Ethiope West LGA

Registered voters – 110,931
Accredited voters – 14,995

APC – 6,758
LP – 304
PDP – 7065

Valid votes – 14,374
Rejected votes – 452
Total votes cast – 14,826

Ughelli North LGA

Registered voters – 223,083
Accredited voters – 55,130

APC – 34,955
LP – 1,438
PDP – 15,198

Valid votes – 53,232
Rejected votes – 1,453
Total votes cast – 54,685

Isoko South LGA

Registered voters – 140,822
Accredited voters – 38,902

APC – 15,954
LP – 492
PDP – 19,963

Valid votes – 38,109
Rejected votes – 528
Total votes cast – 38,637

Ukwuani LGA

Registered voters – 89,658
Accredited voters – 24,108

APC – 7,591
LP – 791
PDP – 14,640

Valid votes – 23,596
Rejected votes – 485
Total votes cast – 24,081

Ndokwa West LGA

Registered voters – 104,574
Accredited voters – 27,883

APC – 10,252
LP – 935
PDP – 15,539

Valid votes – 26,989
Rejected votes – 536
Total votes cast – 27,525

Warri North LGA

Registered voters – 110,363
Accredited voters – 15,494

APC – 4,165
LP – 250
PDP – 10,367

Valid votes – 15,139
Rejected votes – 355
Total votes cast – 15,494

Burutu LGA

Registered voters – 112,867
Accredited voters – 25,627

APC – 11,736
LP – 123
PDP – 12,641

Valid votes – 24,962
Rejected votes – 564
Total votes cast – 25,526

Warri South-West LGA

Registered voters – 190,456
Accredited voters – 30,213

APC – 3,770
LP – 140
PDP – 7,114

Valid votes – 11,133
Rejected votes – 247
Total voters cast – 11,380

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BREAKING: PDP Chairman Beaten To Coma Dies

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Peter Nweke

Peter Nweke, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman in Ezza North local government area, beaten to coma, is dead.

Nweke died from injuries he sustained from attacks by hoodlums suspected to be political thugs on Saturday during the Governorship and Assembly elections.

Police spokesperson, Onome Onovwakpoyeya confirmed the death of Nweke on Sunday.

She said Nweke was beaten up and rushed to the hospital unconscious where he was later pronounced dead by a doctor.

The police officer said the police had launched an investigation into the death with a view to arresting and prosecuting anyone responsible.

Nweke’s younger brother, Samson Nweke also confirmed the death.

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