NEWS
The Ekweremadus Health, Human Trafficking, Organ Harvesting Travails
By Kenneth Eze
The world was jolted last Thursday when news broke out that Nigeria’s former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and his wife Beatrice Nwanneka Ekweremadu’s alleged involvement in human trafficking and organ harvesting in the United Kingdom (UK).
Coming on the heels of overwhelming hardship being experienced by the masses in Nigeria, it is relatable that the Nigerian public chose to celebrate the matter, instead of empathising with a spouse looking to save the life of a child a daughter battling with a terminal illness.
Sadly, the issue of ill-governance and consequently hardship it has brought upon the populace seem to have eroded humanity to the point where people seem to be praying for the rich to also cry.
I wonder if this should be. And why?
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While we are entitled to the legitimate right to wrestle our collective destiny at the national level from unscrupulous politicians, we owe ourselves the duty to do so rationally.
It can be said that the public’s spontaneous reaction can be seen as a lesson for politicians and public servants, but the more salient issues are: Without controversy, every responsible parent would do everything legal within his/her to save his/her child who is similarly threatened like Sonia Ekweremadu. The next is that no one has a moral right to seek to profit from the misfortune of another, particularly illness. The third is that the parties to this (the Ekweremadus and the proposed donor, Ukpo Nwamini David) are adults and can enter into a binding contract.
My candid take is that the public ought to weigh the issues properly before jumping into the conversation. Suffice it to state that at moment there’s scanty information, as there’s little or no access to the parties to the matter. This has made real informed commentary tough naught at this time.
However, a sensitive aspect of the discourse is the proposed donor’s age. While the Metropolitan Police said the boy is 15, his traveling documents indicate that he is 21. What nobody can take away is that his picture and social media footprints tell a story of someone well above the 15 being brandied.
Another aspect that no one can mask is that his traveling was processed formally on medical grounds, for which he had privileged information. The coming days will reveal why this dangerous twist came into the story.
Another aspect that lends itself to plausibility is the fact that any young unemployed person would almost stop at nothing to secure an exit from the open prison, called Nigeria. Probably, this is the card this young man is playing. It would be sickening if this should be the case, that an individual would go to the extent of throwing another of high public standing under the bus, just to secure papers to stay in a foreign country.
This ought to be of concern to members of the public.
While each person is at liberty to seek to live or work wherever he or she wishes, that should not be at the detriment of others, particularly, someone with a terminal illness.
It’s painful enough to have a child with a terminal disease. And for another to seek to profit from it, endangering the sick child and her parents in the process. That’s hard to imagine!
Where’s humanity and compassion? And for others to condemn a genuine effort of parents to save the life of their daughter. I think we all need to think again.
Unfortunately for the Ekweremadus, the extant laws in the UK favor the minor. It is not clear if there’s a legal provision that can unravel this young man’s real age. Because until that is done, though, evidence of Ukpo submitting himself to the procurement of travelling documents, and indeed, undertaking the journey without alerting the law, in addition to willingly being ‘spoilt’ by the Ekweremadus, indicate that he consented, they amount to nothing.
Extant laws in the UK are in place to protect the weak or disadvantaged, which weighs against the Ekweremadus, albeit momentarily.
While these are ongoing, it is time to become sober and ponder on; ‘To what extend should parents go to try to save the life of a child diagnosed with a terminal illness?’
I am actually worried at the sudden turn of events because this is Nigeria, a country where people of all tribes and religions donate to save the lives of others just at the prompting of trusted media channels or other individuals.
What could have gone wrong? This is beyond religious or political sentiments.
Ukpo might be making all manner of claims before the UK authorities, but it must be borne in mind that the request upon which his UK visa was granted was founded on medical. Now, that he is claiming ignorance of what took him to the UK, can he adduce evidence of his medical condition and why the onus fell on the Ekweremadus to take him to the UK for treatment?
Unless Ukpo comes clean on this, his claims might appeal to the UK authorities and their legal system, but however this ends, he would have to live with the burden of undoing a benefactor all the days of his life.
The Kano State Police Command has warned residents of a potential terror attack, targeting public gatherings in strategic locations across the state.
In a statement issued on Friday, the command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Abdullahi Haruna, disclosed that intelligence reports indicated suspected terrorists were planning to carry out attacks.
“The Kano State Police Command, in liaison with other security agencies, has received intelligence reports of suspected terrorists planning to launch attacks on public gatherings in strategic locations within Kano State.
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“In response, we hereby urge residents to exercise caution and avoid crowded places and environments until further notice as a preventive measure to enable security operatives to identify and dislodge possible attackers,” the statement read.
To address the threat, the police command has enhanced security arrangements across the state. SP Haruna revealed that specialized units, including the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) and the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) teams, have been deployed to strategic locations and are on high alert.
“A team of experts from the command’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal, Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear units have been deployed to strategic locations and are on high alert.
“The unit can be contacted through: 08169884988 or 07067157218 for report of suspicious persons or item(s),” Haruna stated.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest police station or contact the command through the designated hotlines.
“The command remains committed to protecting lives and properties as well as maintaining law and order in Kano State.
“We appreciate the support and cooperation of the good people of Kano State and urge everyone to remain vigilant. Your vigilance and cooperation are crucial in ensuring public safety,” the statement concluded.
NEWS
Ifon-Ilobu-Erin Osun Land Disputes: Osun Constitutes A 100-Member Boundary Resolution Committee
In the bid to resolve the incessant land disputes between the communities of Ifon, Ilobu and Erin Osun, the Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke has constituted an enlarged 100-member high powered land crisis resolution committee in which each of the affected communities has 25 representatives, and the state government represented by 25 members.
The Osun State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Oluomo Kolapo Alimi made the disclosure in a statement in Osogbo, on Friday.
He revealed that the Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Adetunji Olanipekun Larooye is the Chairman of the Committee, while a retired judge of Osun State Judiciary and Chairman, Osun State Boundary Commission, Justice Moshood Adekunle Adeigbe, would serve as the Co-Chairman.
According to Alimi, Gov Adeleke put in place the Committee with a view to bringing a lasting end to the incessant land disputes among the three affected communities.
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It was gleaned from the statement that there were four other traditional rulers on the panel, including His Royal Majesty; Oba Abioye Oyebode, the Olokuku of Okuku, His Royal Majesty; Oba Adams Iyiola Bamidele Yusuf, the Oloba of Oba Oke, His Royal Majesty; Oba Adekeye Oyedare, the Oloyan of Oyan and His Royal Majesty, Oba Akeem Ogungbamgbe,The Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesha.
Other members are Umar Abba Mohammed, Osun State Commissioner of Police, Ayoola Kehinde, Osun State Director, Department of State Services( DSS) Brigadier General, Aliu Mohammed, Commander E.C.C, Ede, Sotiyobo Igbalawola, Osun State Commander, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps( NSCDC), Anthony Chikezie, Commander, Immigration Service, Osun State, Adekunle Omoyele, Osun State Commander, Amotekun Corps, and Special Adviser to Osun State Governor on Security, Barrister Dare Ojo.
Also on the enlarged Committee, where members are enjoined by Gov Adeleke to bring in their wealth of experience to bear on the highly critical assignment, are the Chairman, NBA Osogbo branch, Yemi Abiona, Esq; the Chairman, NBA, Ikirun, Niyi Akinsola, Esq; the Chairman, NBA, Ile Ife, Tope Olajoko, Esq; the Chairman, NBA, Ilesha, Raymond Oki, Esq; Others appointed to serve on the Ifon- Ilobu- Erin Osun Peace Resolution Committee are; Soladoye Abioye, the Surveyor General of Osun State – Dr Sodiq Olohunde, Office of Chief of Staff to the Governor, Marufat Adekemi Bello, Permanent Secretary , Ministry of Justice – Femi Ogundun,- Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Govt and Chiertincy Affairs, Dr Fritz Mobolaji Olaoye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning.
Completing the list of the Committee members are Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu, Osun NUJ Council Chairman, Comrade Waheed Lawal, Osun Civil Society Coalition and Comrade Saka Mao, a Public Affairs Analyst
The statement has it that Gov Adeleke, will on Tuesday, the 28th of January, 2025 perform the swearing in ceremony of the 100-member enlarged Ifon, Ilobu, Erin Osun Land Crisis Resolution Committee, at the Multi purpose hall of Local Government Service Commission, State Government Secretariat, Abere Osogbo by 11:00am.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has charged the Managing Director of the Edo State Traffic Control Management Agency (EDSTMA), Engr. Stainless Ijeghede on indiscriminate parking and traffic gridlock, especially in market areas.
According to a statement in Benin City on Friday, by Chief Press Secretary to Edo State Governor, Fred Itua, his principal gave the charge while decorating Ijeghede with his new rank as the head of EDSTMA.
He noted that while addressing the new Managing Director and his personnel at the Exco Chambers in Government House, Gov Okpebholo pointed out that the agency should do its job well by ensuring free flow of traffic across the state.
He called on Ijeghede and men of the agency to ensure they checked indiscriminate parking of vehicles and buses, especially in market areas.
“Edo State belongs to all of us and whatever we are doing, we should do it with care not to harm anybody. I appeal to EDSTMA to ensure that the city is well kept because whenever I drive round town, I see vehicles everywhere as the city is not well kept.
“This is your primary assignment. You should ensure the city is well kept as vehicles park indiscriminately and they are causing obstruction. Traffic is not flowing as it should and it is causing serious gridlock. Is it that you are not doing your job well?
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“Is it that you are not doing your job well or because you have a new leader that is why traffic is not flowing, or because you don’t know your job?
“You people should wake up and keep the state clean. Make sure that vehicles are parked well especially in the market areas. Monitor markets very well as these areas are looking really unkempt with vehicles and buses parked indiscriminately, causing traffic gridlock. Edo people are worst hit. They suffer from this. Ensure free flow of traffic so that the people will be happy,” Governor Okpebholo emphasized.
The EDSTMA boss, thanked Gov Okpebholo for the opportunity to serve the people of Edo State and assured him of the loyalty of the agency.
He added that his men will do their job professionally and ensure that the is free flow of traffic across the state.
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