Soldiers from the 2 Brigade Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, stationed in Bori, Rivers State are at loggerhead with the Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers (COTRA) over the arrest of the paramount ruler of Yeghe community in Ogoniland, Barinaadaa Gbaranee.

Yeghe community, in Gokana Local Government Area of Rivers State has been a hot spot of army operations since they invaded the community in February in search of ex-agitator, Solomon Ndigbara, whom the military has since declared wanted.

Not less than 20 persons were allegedly killed in the military operation even though the army said nobody was killed.

The Assistant Director of Army Public Relations, 2 Brigade Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Captain Eli Lazarus, confirmed the arrest of the Ogoni traditional ruler.

He however said the army “invited” Gbaranee for questioning concerning an investigation it was carrying out.

Lazarus said: “the paramount ruler of Yeghe community, HRH Barinadaa Gbaranee, was invited by 2 Brigade Nigerian Army in connection with an on-going investigation that relates to security within his domain. I assure you that he will return to his community as soon as investigation is completed.”

But the Chairman of COTRA, King Suanu Baridam, in a statement issued said, “We consider the abduction of Chief T.D. Gbaranee a desecration of the highly respected traditional institution and strongly reject the humiliation of an Ogoni traditional stool by the Army.” [myad]

The new Oba of Benin, His Royal Highness Edaiken N’Uselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, has emerged after the death of the former one.

The Edo State Government approved the appointment of the Edaiken N’Uselu, saying that the approval was in line with Section 19 (1) of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law, 1979 (as amended), adding that the appointment takes effect from ‎April 29, 2016.

According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to governor Adams Oshiomhole, the approval was contained in a letter dated May 24, 2016, and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Julius Ihonvbere.

Part of the letter titled, Appointment of His Royal Highness, Edaiken N’Uselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa, as the Oba of Benin, read: “It is hereby notified for general information that in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 19 (1) of the Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law, 1979  (as amended) and by virtue of all other laws enabling it in that behalf, the Executive Council of the Edo State Government of Nigeria has approved the appointment of His Royal Highness Edaiken N’Uselu, Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa as the Oba of Benin, with effect from April 29, 2016.”‎

The death of the immediate past Oba, Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, was announced late last month by the Edo state government thus:

“Our hearts are heavy, laden with pains and grief, at the announcement of the passing on to glory of Omo n’Oba n’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa of Benin, our highly revered Oba, a distinguished Edo numero uno, an accomplished Nigerian, a seasoned bureaucrat, quintessential unifier, unique personage and exemplary Omo N’Oba, whose reign brought distinction, immense class, finesse and integrity to traditional institution in Edo state and the country at large.

“His carriage comes with an élan that was peculiar with the reverence of royalty. His uncommon courage was symbolic of the can-do spirit of the Edo mind. His unity of purpose was not in doubt even as he used his revered position to promote constructive engagement amongst all shades of opinion and culture in Edo state.”  [myad]

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has said that the Nigeria Federal Government is in the process of repatriating from Jersey, the stolen 300 million pounds.

Onyeama who spoke on Tuesday in Abuja at a news conference organized as part of activities to mark the one year anniversary of President Mohammadu Buhari’s administration, said that the money in Jersey would have been repatriated but for a last minute objection by the people, who were supposed to forfeit it.

“We are just in the process of repatriating that in the UK itself. Sometimes very often what happens is that the people, who have ownership or who claim to have ownership (of the money) might bring up a defence.

“Like if you take the one in Jersey, it is like 300 million pounds or thereabout; now everything had been done to repatriate the money.

“It was no longer contested and then at the last minute, an objection was raised by the people, who were supposed to forfeit those funds.

Jersey, an independent, English-speaking territory with a mix of British and French cultures, is the largest of the Channel Islands located between England and France.

According to the minister, the important thing is that the process has been engaged.

He said Nigeria would not relent in seeking to repatriate the alleged stolen funds.

He also said that the process of repatriation of looted funds stacked in other countries like Switzerland and the US is in progress. [myad]

In spite of the political wrangling between Governor Nasiru Ahmed El-Rufai of Kaduna state and his fellow party man, Senator Shehu Sanni, El-Rufai, Tuesday, visited Shehu Sanni over the death of his mother.

El-Rufai was at Senator Sanni residence in Tudun Wada area of Kaduna metropolis to condole with him.

Sanni’s mother, Amina Abdullahi Sani, died on Saturday after a brief illness, the family said. [myad]

President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians “with the highest sense of responsibility” that this rough moment in the life of Nigeria, will fizzle away, like a candle in the whirlwind.
Buhari, who spoke to the fellow Nigerians today, on the removal of fuel subsidy and the consequent increase in the price of same, said that he was speaking from the depth of his heart.
In a broadcast speech titled: “Your Sacrifices Not In Vain” with sub title: “I am touch but insist on reduction of the price hike,” the President said that he had chosen to speak to Nigerians directly, whom he described as “my loving country men and women.”
He reassured Nigerians that they would not make these sacrifices in vain, noting that the agony they are going through is telling.
“I know it. I feel it. I share it. But I assure you, as the President of this great nation, that swore to uphold integrity and honour, Your sacrifices will not be in vain. I assure you with the highest sense of responsibility that this rough moment will fizzle away, like a candle in the whirlwind.
“I have chosen this moment to address you, the poor and the rich, the artisan, the cobbler, fishermen and herdsmen, haggling market women, the able and the physically challenged. I speak to the young and the old; I speak to men and women, armed and defenseless people alike. I speak to the people I swore to protect and defend: I speak to you, fellow Nigerians.”
Part of the text of President Buhari’s speech goes thus:
“From the depth of my heart, I choose to speak to you directly, my loving country men and women. First, let me thank you for your perseverance, your courage, your sense of duty and the sacrifices you commit every day, every hour and every minute. On this day, I want to assure you again, that you have not made these sacrifices in vain. The agony is telling. I know it. I feel it. I share it. But I assure you, as the President of this great nation, that swore to uphold integrity and honour, Your sacrifices will not be in vain. I assure you with the highest sense of responsibility that this rough moment will fizzle away, like a candle in the whirlwind.
I have chosen this moment to address you, the poor and the rich, the artisan, the cobbler, fishermen and herdsmen, haggling market women, the able and the physically challenged. I speak to the young and the old, I speak to men and women, armed and defenseless people alike. I speak to the people I swore to protect and defend: I speak to you, fellow Nigerians.
You will recall that last year, you gave me the mandate to lead Nigeria. I feel proud about the sacrifices you made, the scorching sun that you defied and the agony of waiting to cast your votes, and in some cases, standing for several hours in order to save the country that was already heading for a shipwreck. It is now one year that I stepped on this throne, after you gave me the opportunity to lead Nigeria. I cherish this and I thank you.
Fellow country men and women, today, I stand before you to tell you the truth and nothing but the truth. No doubt, your living experiences through the past years are enough to tell you about the situation in which the country was left in my hands.  I want to tell you that since we began this journey, what has kept us going is faith; the faith we have in God, the faith we have in you, derived from the confidence you have in me.
I met a country that was comatose, like an aged woman, bleeding from mindless gang rape. The treasury was mindlessly looted, the external reserves plundered. In return, government officials and their collaborators bought mansions abroad, for themselves, their children, their mistress, their aides and even their children yet to be born. It was history’s most malicious onslaught on a decent people. It is regrettable that the consequences on social security, utility services and livelihood of Nigerians remain enormous. The population of the poor and vulnerable has increased tremendously. States’ economies are on life support, almost at the point of death; many of them can no longer meet their obligations and some face the risk of total collapse.  There is a particular state that received allocations from the Federal Government, barely enough to pay for diesel needed for a whole month, not to talk of workers’ salaries. Jobs and opportunities for you have shrunk.
In fact, workers’ salaries have not been paid for several months in some states. Pensioners continue to wallow in abject poverty in the twilight of their years; the conditions of our public hospitals nose diving into disrepair, the morale of unpaid workers remain at an all time low. Without salaries, how will parents pay the school fees of their wards? Without the required FG allocations, how will states meet their obligations to the teeming population of expectant people? The fact is that state resources have diminished. The price of oil in the international market has compounded the plight of our people.
Please note that for the past one year, I have preoccupied myself with recovering these stolen funds kept in some of the darkest secret recesses of Islands and in Europe. By the last count, we are likely to recover the equivalent of half of Nigeria’s entire one year budget or more, from the accounts of people once voted to lead Nigeria and their cronies.  Apart from recovering the looted funds, it has come to a point that we also need to make sacrifices to see the greater future that lay ahead. You are not going to make the sacrifices alone. I will make sacrifices. My wife will make sacrifices. My children will do the same. My personal expenditure will be cut. My state-supported finances will be drastically reduced. Half of my monthly salary will go to Children Charity Organisations across the 36 states.
My country men and women, I must tell you, we have at hand a key decision. I’m very sorry; this will at first hurt you. But on the long run, you will realize that having a lovely new baby requires come inevitable painful labour. It is on this note that we have taken the rational though painful decision to increase the price of oil from 87 naira. I expect you to be in shock or even embarrassed. I was shocked when the idea was first mooted, but I’m convinced that with a decent and morally upright leadership, I assure you once again, that this sacrifice will not be in vain.
I believe that all the over 150 million Nigerians may not know me personally, but at least your massive support for me during the last Presidential election was an indication that you have some good knowledge of my person. I say again: I will NEVER STEAL your money. I will also NOT ALLOW YOUR MONEY TO BE STOLEN. I will use your money judiciously. I will plough this money into great and remarkable ventures that will uplift Nigeria up from her state of economic stupor. I will bring hope from despair. I will put an end to your cries and your unending affliction. I will challenge and daunt tour tormentors.
I have given directives, which I’m sure you know my aides will firmly adhere, to roll out palliatives. I will create more jobs. I will rekindle the transportation system, build our long neglected roads, create millions of jobs, rekindle our long suffering railways, our public hospitals, our environment, our bridges, our agrarian sector and above all make life more abundant for you the owners of the country on whose behalf I am here to serve, in a honest and passionate manner. I assure you fellow country men and women, Your sacrifices will not be in vain.” [myad]