Delta Police Command Parades 10 Criminal Suspects…

                                     

 

The Delta State Police Command has paraded 10 bandits for various criminal offences across the state while the Command has sternly warned hoodlums to have a change of heart as operatives of the Command have been directed to smoke out criminals from their hideouts in any part of the state.
The offences of the paraded hooligans ranges from armed robbery, murder, car snatching, kidnapping, impersonating personnel of the Nigerian Police Force and an alleged rapist.
Speaking with newsmen in his office, the Commissioner of Police (CP) Zanna Mohammed Ibrahim, disclosed that, “one Mrs. Edith Sunday was robbed by unknown armed men of the sum of N40, 000 and a ladies cycle in her residence at Agbor town. The bandits slaughtered the said Mrs. Sunday and her daughter Favour Sunday, while her son Praise Sunday was severally stabbed on his neck and back but survived the attack”.
CP Ibrahim noted that SARS operatives, after diligent investigation arrested one Solomon Ogibor and Ola Babatunde in connection with the heinous crime while a gang member is currently at large.
In another development, the Police boss disclosed that SARS operatives at Abraka received information that one Jerry Osakwe was attempting to rob one Eze Annable of her valuables but was accosted by the police while SARS who were on patrol on stop and search at Oria/Abraka road arrested one Ewoma Zino with a cut to size locally made barrel gun even as a team of police attached to Abraka Division while on routine stop and search within Abraka metropolis arrested one Paul Ikhanede and recovered a cut to size locally made single barrel gun.
The Commissioner of Police said, “Safer highways patrol located at Ughelli/Patani road while on pin down operations suspected one Mitsubishi L300 bus with Reg. number Anambra ATN 953XA which was flagged down for a search. During interrogation, the driver, one Benie Ebikpolada of Abraka market, Asaba, confessed that the said vehicle was snatched by his boys at gun point in Anambra State and was arrested while the vehicle has been recovered”.
In same vein, CP Ibrahim revealed that dragon patrol team on routine patrol at Ossissa, along Ogwashi-Uku/Kwale road recovered an abandoned M/Benz car with Reg. No. USL 900 AH, “when the vehicle was searched, a lawyers wig/rob, three TECHNO handsets, legal files and a dairy O.F. Obasohan, Esq were found, thereby giving rise that the occupant (s) might have been kidnapped”.
Speaking in an interview, Isiaka Kareem, the father to the twins, who hails from Abeokuta, said he was been framed up by his daughters and his wife, “Because I was a little bit strict with them, I do flog them when they go out. Sometimes, they do buy alcohol. And they are joining bad gangs. And I have been having problem with my wife. When I go to work, they come back home late, I am the only one here. Sometimes I see empty canes or the remnants of the drinks. I reported the issue to my father severally and to my pastor to talk to them in the church. How on earth will it be possible to sleep with my daughters in a house where my wife, father and two sons lives in. this is just an allegation due to my strictness on them. They are only framing me up because I told them that they will be going to the village after their exams”.
“I have been having issues of infidelity with my wife since things dropped for me and she has been going out with men for more five years now and that is the reason I left the compound you can go and find this out and the children are following her footsteps. I have never had sex with my children, they are only framing me up because I have decided to be strict with them. They were raped in 2010, by a native doctor’s son ---Christian Chukwu, I took the case up and the boy was remanded that year”.
Also, Ogibor Solomon, who confessed to his crime said, “The woman said they should kill and chase me out of the area and secondly she talked about my mum that she is a ritualist because my mum died on time and before she died she has two building”.
When asked about his motive of storming the woman’s apartment, Ogibor noted, “I didn’t go there to kill her but when we got there, she begged us and I left her and I collected N40, 000 from her, she started shouting my name. So, I saw a kitchen knife and I used it to stab her and I went out”.
“I am not the one that stabbed her daughter, it was my friend but he escaped from the police. We were three that participated in the act, am not the one that stabbed her son, it is just the mother only. I stabbed the mother, the other of my friend stabbed the daughter, this other of my friend stabbed the son. Because she started mentioning my name that they should send me out of the community. What really happened is that, though I do not stay in the community, I base in Lagos. There was a friend of mine whose mum was sick and the mum wants to go back to the village so he begged me to stay in my place and I left him. I started hearing that he and one of his friends went to rob, they caught them and brought them to that community”.
“People were in my compound that day because of that the woman said I am the one bringing in bad people into that area that they should look for me and chase me out. I am a tailor in Lagos, am 20yrs from Ekpon, I feel very guilty and sad”.
Babatunde Ola who also participated in the murder said, “I am 18yrs old, I am the one who stabbed the boy. I just finished my secondary education last two years. It was Solomon who introduced me into crime when he returned from Lagos”.
A former police officer, Ofili Eze, who was impersonating as an Assistant Superintendent of police also narrated why he was apprehended said, “I am an ex-police officer, what happened is this. I was in a store when a man came and he told me of police job, if I can assist him and I asked him his educational qualification as it has been long we saw and he said NCE.
He said he has the document excerpt the certificate of medical fitness which he said he will do but he did not do it that day so the next day he came and we discussed together and he gave me N4, 000 only for the medical fitness for me to do the medical fitness for him. When I brought back the medical fitness report, we were on that discussion when the police came and arrested me. I was a Corporal, the rank of a Sergeant when I was in the police”.
 

Analysing The Democracy And Democratic Practise In Nigeria Fourth Republic

The model of democracy that is popular in this age of globalization is liberal democracy, democracy is a descriptive term that is synonymous with majority rule, it associated with democratic consolidation and good governance. However, in Nigeria, effort to attained the high level of democratic consolidation and good governance have been made but not yet to be crowned with much success.
The literal meaning of "democracy" comes from a combination of two Greek words, demos (people) and kratos (rule), and at its core, “Democracy is a form of government in which the people rule”. The term originated in Athens and was a part of the standard classification of regime forms that distinguished rule by one (monarchy), several (aristocracy), and the many (democracy). However, beyond the literal meaning of democracy, there has been considerable debate over the criteria that distinguish democracies from non democracies.
It can be argued that, democracy is a system of government where the opportunity to participate in an authoritative decision making is opened to all who are willing and interested to share. However, it is a system of government that recognized individual rights, a system of representation and electoral system based on the principle of one man one vote and one vote one value.
The Nigerian state assumed a new governance status in 1999 following the demise of authoritarian regime in the country. Military dictatorship was replaced by representative democracy with the hopes and aspirations of good governance much higher than what the seemingly collapsible democratic institutions could fulfil. The source and nature of transition in 1999 was later found to constitute threat to the foundation of democracy and obliterates the current efforts at consolidating democracy.
Since restoration of democratic rule in the country, change of government has been orderly while elections have been periodic. Between 1999 and 2015 four different civilian administrations have emerged and there have been four successive transitions from civilian government to another (Obasanjo Administration, 1999-2007, Yar’adua/Jonathan Administration, 2007-2011, Jonathan Administration, 2011-2015) and incoming administration Buhari Administration 2015. This also applicable to the legislature. Since 1999, the country has successfully passed through five legislative houses both at the centre and the component units. Elections in the Fourth Republic have been characterized by monumental irregularities and malpractices which magnitude increases with every election.
Despite the fact that Nigeria has experienced about sixteen years of uninterrupted democracy practice the are various challenges confronting democratic consolidation and good governance in the Nigeria.
Corruption constitutes one of the greatest challenges and threats to the democrat consolidation in Nigeria Fourth Republic. The incidence of corruption in the country reached a crescendo in 2004 when a German based non-governmental organisation called Transparency International in its 2004 Corruption Perception Index(CPI), report projected Nigeria as the 2nd most corrupt country in the world(132nd out of 133 countries surveyed)
Since the emergency of the fourth republic, Election and democratic practice in Nigeria has been more of a force than a serious fact. Admittedly, Nigeria registered and voted at the elections that brought the ruling class into power, the candidate presented to them for selection were chosen not by them but by the political elites. Voting as observed became for Nigerians a matter of ritual performances than discharge of bounden duty.
It can be argued that elections and democratic practice in fourth republic characterized by electoral malpractices, political intolerance, economic mismanagement, using political office as gateway to personal enrichment, political thuggery, lack of intra party democracy, insecurity, manipulation of religion and ethnicity to achieve selfish political ambitions and other countless misdemeanors were order of the day
Poverty is another factor that constitutes grave challenges to democratic consolidation and good governance in the country. Nigeria is blessed with abundant human and natural resources and yet its people are poor. The nation is rank among the world’s poorest country. According to United Nations Development Programme (2009), in Nigeria hunger exhibits its ugly face in most homes where the average citizen contends with a life of abject poverty. Thus, about 70% of Nigeria population are poor, the average Nigerian is alienated from himself as he lacks the wherewithal to afford the basic necessities of life such as education, medical facilities.
The consequence of this is that the poor masses are easily brainwashed and their right of choice terribly manipulated making an objective choice seldom to consideration. Besides, various forms of inducements and gratification which provide temporary relief from the scourge of poverty are given central attention in making democratic choices. However, many Nigerians see the election period as an opportunity to demand of the office seeker a slice of their wealth. Thus, their participation in the election process was only influenced by how much they could attract the contestants rather than by deliberate decision based on preventing issues and national interest
One of the daunting challenges confronting the present democratic dispensation is insecurity. Since the return of democracy, the country has experienced ethno-religious crises, sectarian mayhem, etc., questioning and shaking the survival of the country. Some of these crises include: Yoruba/Hausa-Fulani disturbance in Shagamu, Ogun State; Aguleri, Umuleri and Umuoba Anam of Anambra State; Ijaw/Itsekiri crisis over the location of Local Government headquarter; the Jukun, Chamba and Kuteb power struggle over who control Takum; incessant turbulence in Jos; the 2011 post-election violence in the northern part of the country as well as the constant sectarian crisis exemplified by the activities of the Boko Haram. The analysis of the above upheaval will reveal that our democracy is under siege prompting Dauda and Avidime (2007 to argue that the current security situation in the country is a major obstacle to the consolidation of democracy.
For Nigeria democracy to move toward democratic consolidation and good governance in fourth republic, we urge incoming administration to follow the following prospects
In another development, corruption is one of the basic challenges confronting democracy, Democratic consolidation and good governance in Nigeria's fourth republic, however, we urge incoming president as he has pledged to tackle corruption and be the country anti corruption champion. For any nation to be consolidated, the level of corruption will be reduce to the minimal, some developing countries have succeed by reducing the corruption and their president serves as anti-corruption champion e.g Botswana in Africa and Singapore in Asia.
Having a president who is the head of government as the anti-corruption champion is important because, as the saying goes, the fish rots from the head. Effective from May 29, 2015, all Nigerians, non-nationals who live in Nigeria, and all those within and outside Nigeria who do business with the country, will have to begin to adjust to the reality that Nigeria has a president who will strictly enforce the commitment he has made to his country men and women: “corruption will not be tolerated by this administration”.
Strikingly, Buhari’s commitment is no more than announcing his determination to uphold Section 15 (5) of the 1999 Constitution amended. “The State shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power”. If his predecessors had taken their oath to uphold the Constitution seriously with particular reference to the provision on anti-corruption, Buhari’s commitment would not appear as a radical new development.
The war on corruption must be pursued with vigour. Put differently, it must be pushed beyond political propaganda, intimidation and witch-hunting of political opponents. Government must muster the political will to punish any corrupt public officer irrespective of his or her status in the society. In addition, legislation should be enacted by the National Assembly making capital punishment a penalty for corruption related offences.
Democracy does not thrive on an empty stomach and democracy cannot be consolidated when majority of the people live in abject poverty. To be more pro active, governments at all levels need to be serious or pay more attention to problem of poverty. The socio-cultural factor such as family system that appears to be reinforcing poverty has to be addressed. Governments at all levels must pursue vigorously programmes that can alleviate poverty. Such programmes must address the roots cause of poverty. Besides, our educational sector should be overhauled. The curriculum should be such that addresses the present reality.
In reality, Nigerians need political education in order to improve in their electoral system and democratic practice in fourth republic, the people should learn to abhor tribalism, factionalism, election malpractice in order not to mortgage the rights and future. Here a political scientists have the role to play in conjunction with National Orientation Agency (NOA), Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Nigerian Security Agents and Religions Organization, however, they have a responsibility to cultivate the political awareness at the grassroots through the well planned programme of political education. By embarking on political Evangelism, it will make people to be well political active and oriented during the election period.
Political scientists should be more pro-active in providing a search light for dialogue about what must be done to elevate the level of political consciousness and activism of the Nigeria masses. They cannot remain quiescent in the extremely desperate state of democratization in which politicians are most likely to engage in undemocratic practices when there is low risk to be prosecuted punished or to lose their seat in parliament as a consequence of voters dissent with a politician’s conduct.
National Orientation Agency (NOA) has a lot to do, well co-ordinated strategies for the awareness of the people rights effectively utilized to promote democracy in Nigeria. However, since the present political scenario in Nigeria is such that political parties because of their lack of focus on the masses has not been able to effectively perform the functions of political socialization, interest articulation, interest aggregation and political communication.
To be more pro-active political parties have a lot to do in Nigeria's democratic settings, By this, political parties will publicize and promote their programmes, they should provide voters with substantial information about current political issues, citizen democratic right, contribute to voter’s education and human development. Religion leaders should play a prominent role during election, by this religions organization need to engage in orientating their worshippers i.e. election is not do or die affairs, because some political violence in Nigeria was rooted from religion perspective and ideology.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the body saddled with the responsibility of supervising the entire electoral process. Obviously, the formation of this body was also faulty, mainly because its members were chosen not necessarily on merit but, most probably, based on political connections or expediencies. Appointment of the chairman Independent National Electoral Commission must based on merit and such person must have foundation and in-dept knowledge in Political Science and Law. Because, INEC in Nigeria was expected to achieve this feat but has failed woefully due to the non-autonomous nature of the commission.
The Independent National Electoral Commission and security agents were to be non partisan and also expected to be impartial in their operations due to their major roles in election and democratic practice in Nigeria. INEC is expected to discharged their duties. Electoral Commission should be restructure in a way that they will have absolute autonomous and separate from the control of Organs of government, Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, so that they will be able to discharged their duty such as, registration of voters, provision of electoral materials, conducting of free, fair and credible election and announcing the election result without external affairs.
The establishment of an Electoral Crime Commission in conjunction with Judicial Body that will serve as a watchdog of the electoral commission, the political parties and contesting candidates in ensuring that political campaigns and elections are conducted according to the rules of the game. The Electoral Crime Commission should also be charged with the powers to prosecute those caught in the act of electoral violence, thuggery, snatching of ballot boxes and other electoral ills in the Court of law.
Judiciary cannot be left out in election and democratic practice in Nigeria, Nigeria judicial system should also be strengthened and reorganized in a way that the judiciary will have autonomous to discharged their duty, judicial system should non partisan, this will give the opposition the opportunity of wining the election and it will serve as last hope for opposition parties and the politicians.
In order to advance and enduring democracy and democratic practice in Nigeria, Nigerian should follow the general pattern found in advanced democratic states and properly blended with indigenous peculiarities. This way an enviable political culture sustained by rule of law.

Democracy and Governance in Nigeria: Reflecting on 51 Years of Independence

Sovereignty is not a right; it is a responsibility, in political terms it is the responsibility of the state to deliver education, health care, infrastructure, public services, good governance, and protection from violence and crime among others. Independence throughout Africa is a great source of pride and a symbol of accomplishment. However, past the act of independence, governments of independent states have numerous responsibilities. The inability of the state to meet its responsibility, results in state failure. The African giant a failed state? This seems improbable however; the reality on the ground confirms Nigeria’s descent into the undesired category.

Independence broke the bonds of colonialism, freeing Nigeria to be sovereign, to practice free will and to determine its own fate. Now, 51 years later what has this produced? In the Niger Delta region, it has produced a citizenry paralyzed by the presence of oil companies, their movements restricted in their own communities. It has produced isolation in the name of commerce. As argued by Amnesty International, oil companies treat community residents as “risks rather than as stakeholders with critical concerns about the impact of oil operations.” This approach alienates community residents and fuels animosity. Where communities protest (violent or non-violent) the alienation by oil companies, the response is a disproportionate use of force by government forces against communities. The interests of foreign companies being placed before the needs of nationals are not reflective of a government that is accountable or of an independent state.
Independence has also produced a destruction of traditional livelihoods and a population disenfranchised by a lack of access to elected officials and election materials. The decentralized nature of Nigeria’s federal system should produce significant development in communities, since Local Governments function to ensure public service delivery at the local level. However, the reverse has been true. Local government representatives have limited engagement with the communities they serve; many are only present during elections. There is a lack of transparency in their budgetary allocations and community development projects do not reflect the needs of the people. Of 478 focus groups surveyed in our Niger Delta Citizen Report Card, 408 described their relationship with Local Government as “poor”; this reflects the views of 120 communities in the Niger Delta. What is more, only 0.2% of respondents reported that they receive information about development resources from Local Government. These findings demonstrate the stark disconnect between the “grassroots government” and its constituents.
The Niger Delta region suffers from severe underdevelopment despite the billions of dollars in revenue that it produces in oil, a key driver of the Nigerian economy. Environmental degradation has crippled traditional livelihoods, lack of infrastructure, poor water and sanitation and a lack of educational and health facilities has severely stunted human development of many of its 30 million inhabitants. The 2010 UNDP Human Development Report notes that, “In the Niger Delta endemic oil spills, waste dumping and gas flaring have destroyed ecologically sensitive wetlands, clogged waterways, killed wildlife and damaged the soil and air quality over the past 50 years—ruining the lives of people in the region.”
This description is a reflection of an independent state unable to meet its central objective, the needs of the people.
The conditions described above confirm that Nigeria is a weak state, leaning toward failure. Nigeria meets the criteria for state weakness as established by the Brookings Institution’s Index of State Weakness. As a state, Nigeria has failed to meet the basic human needs of its population; it lacks transparent and accountable political institutions and it has not produced sustainable or equitable economic growth.
In short, freedom and true independence will be achieved when the citizenry of Nigeria are empowered in every sense, economically, politically and socially. Their continued deprivation and neglect showers on the pride placed in independence. Without rectifying these issues independence is simply neo-colonialism, where few benefit and masses suffer. We hope to see a truly independent Nigeria, a new Nigeria. In the words of Nigerian writer, Wole Soyinka, “Let’s say there are prospects for a new Nigeria, but I don’t think we have a new Nigeria yet.”

Identity of Niger Delta Avengers Finally Revealed, You Will Be Shocked By Who They Are

Commander Bibi Oduku, the commandant general, Riverine Security (Coast Guard of the Federation), has revealed the identity of militants bombing oil installations in Delta state under the cover of Niger Delta Avengers (NDA). According to him, the NDA hails from Gbaramatu Kingdom in Warri Southwest local government area of the state. Oduku also fingered an ex-militant leader, who he accused of “aiding and abetting criminals in their community in the recent attack on oil and gas installations within and outside the kingdom,” Vanguard reports.
He said: “Investigation by our security outfit has shown that NDA, which has claimed responsibility for the recent attacks on oil facilities in the Niger Delta are from Gbaramatu kingdom.” Oduku also tasked traditional rulers, community leaders and well- meaning Niger- Deltans to denounce the activities of group as devilish, advising youths in the region not to join this group and other militia groups. However in a swift response, the Ijaw leader from Gbaramatu kingdom, Chief Godspower Gbenekama, said: “Gbaramatu people are not part of Niger Delta Avengers, which took responsibility for the recent bombing of oil installations in the state and can never be part of them. We condemn their actions and are against pipeline vandalism of any sort. So, we do not see why the army should turn our community to a hunting ground.