The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, has warned the Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK Awka, Anambra State Prof. Charles Esimone, and West African Examination Council, WAEC to postpone the convocation ceremony of the University and WAEC exam scheduled for May 30th. IPoB, in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, entitled “Nnamdi Azikiwe University VC and WAEC Board to postpone 30th May Convocation and WAEC on that day,” said Prof. Esimone ought to know that 30th of May every year is Biafra Heroes Day and should not fix any programs of his University on that day, just as WAEC should have known that that day is sacrosanct to all Igbo men and women. IPoB’s statement reads, “Dear Professor Charles Okechukwu Esimone Vice Chancellor, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, UNIZIK Anambra State. The attention of the global family and movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPoB, led by our indomitable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, has been drawn to your proposed University’s Convocation date of 30th May, 2024 and the WAEC examinations for the same day. “We urge you to kindly reschedule your convocation and exams to a new date because 30th of May, is the Biafra Heroes Day and a sit-at-home for all Biafrans in the Biafra land. “Dear VC Esimone, if you consider yourself a Biafra, you ought to know that 30th of May is a Biafra Heroes day. And WAEC board members, Biafra Heroes day is sacrosanct to Ndigbo, you dare not fix your exam on that day if you have respect for Igbo race. “Nevertheless, we are reminding you and the UNIZIK University Management and WAEC board that May 30 of every year is a sacred day set aside to honour Biafra heroes and heroines who paid the ultimate prize and sacrifice for the survival of Biafrans. “That day remains sacred and a day that Biafrans sit-at-home to remember and honour our heroes who fell during the Nigerian genocidal war against Biafrans between 1967 to 1970. “Even until the present day the killing has not stopped. No public event is expected to take place in Biafra land on this day. Biafra Heroes day is a public holiday and a sit-at-home in Biafra land for Biafrans in honor of our fallen heroes and heroines. All markets, schools, banks, government and private offices are expected to be under lock and key. “Movement of persons and vehicles are not allowed except those on essential or emergency services such as Journalists, health workers, Ambulance, Fire Service, Filling stations and Hospitals etc. “West African examination Council, WAEC, board should not endanger the lives of small children because that day is not safe for any individual in Biafra territory, it is a day everybody stays indoors for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice for us to live and they must reschedule the date to another day. 30th of May is a Biafran remembrance day. “If anything happens to those children they want to bring out that day they will regret doing so. By this open letter, to you IPoB is calling on the Vice Chancellor and the Management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, UNIZIK, Awka, WAEC and any other person or group that scheduled any program for 30th May, 2024, to postpone such program. Biafra Heroes Day takes precedence over any program in Biafra land on that day. “However, if the Vice Chancellor and the Management of UNIZIK insist on having their Convocation on 30th May, 2024 in disregard of Biafra fallen heroes and heroines, they have decided to spit on the graves of Biafra heroes and heroines and should be ready to take responsibility for whatever happens afterwards. “IPoB will not enforce the 30th May sit-at-home, but will also not take responsibility for whatever happens to the violators on that day. The Management of Nnamdi Azikiwe University must not provoke IPoB. “We do not take it kindly with people desecrating the memory of our heroes and heroines. IPOB calls on the students, the parents, the guests, and visitors to UNIZIK’s Convocation ceremony and those for WAEC exams scheduled for May 30th to apply caution and avoid being on the road the day Biafrans are mourning their dead. “If the University goes ahead with the plans. Safety is an individual responsibility. Don’t endanger yourself for an hour-long ceremony. In the past, Nigeria security forces and their collaborators have killed and set some cars of those found on the road ablaze any time IPoB calls for sit-at-home, just to blackmail IPoB. Don’t be a victim. “IPoB is therefore, warning all the persons and institutions paid to insult and desecrate the memories of our fallen heroes that their sponsors will not be there to save them when the rain starts falling on them. “Those that have sabotaged their stock in trade will be collectively and individually held to account for their evil. “IPOB is not a Umunna meeting or community meeting to be toyed with. As much as we care we also bite. UNIZIK Management and WAEC board should be warned.”

  Tragedy struck, in the early hours of Tuesday, at the Amarata suburb of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital as seven persons lost their lives after inhaling fumes from power generating set (generator) placed inside a music studio.   The incident, occured along Transformer Road, Amarata in Yenagoa Local Government Area of the state. According to some residents, the deceased were working in the recording studio, owned by one of them, identified as Akpos Barakubo. They were said to have worked late into the night on Monday using a generator due to the poor power supply situation in the state and may have slept off leaving the generator running in the studio lacking Ng proper ventilation. It was learned that six of the victims were discovered dead Tuesday morning while one who was unconscious was rushed to the hospital but later gave up the ghost. Some of the victims were said to be students of the Niger Delta University (NDU), who are into the recording business to help themselves in school. Security operatives had condoned off the area as at press time with the corpses evacuated and deposited at the morgue. A resident, simply identified as Damion blamed the tragic incident on the poor power supply situation in the state. He said: “If there was public power supply maybe these people wouldn’t have lost their lives in this circumstances. “Seven able-bodied young men just died like that because of the failure of government. The most annoying thing is that tomorrow, the PHED personnel will come with ladder to disconnect light that they are not supplying. How can people be spending their money in fueling generators despite the current hardship in Nigeria, even after paying for light bills? Attempt to get the reaction of the Spokesman of the state police command, ASP Musa Muhammed, proved abortive as his mobile phone line was not going through.

  A Rivers State High Court sitting in Port Harcourt has voided the tenure extension for local government chairmen in the state. This was as the court declared Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024, which extended the tenure of local government chairmen by 6 months after expiration of their tenure, invalid. The 27 lawmakers in the camp of the Minister of Federal Capital, Chief Nyesom Wike, had this year, in the face of the crisis, enacted a law extending the three-year tenure of the serving LGA chairmen by three months. However, the court, in its decision Tuesday, held that the new law was inconsistent with the 1999 constitution and Section 9(1) of Rivers State Law No. 5 of 2018, which fixed 3 years for local government chairmen and councillors. The court gave the ruling that the recent extension of local government chairmen’s tenures was invalid in suit number PHC/1320/CS/2024, a case instituted by Hon. Enyiada Cookey-Gam & 6 Ors vs. The Governor of Rivers State & Ors. In his judgment, HHon. Justice D.G. Kio declared that Local Government Law No. 2 of 2024, which sought to extend the Chairmen’s terms by six months, conflicts with the 1999 Constitution and Section 9(1) of Rivers State Local Government Law No. 5 of 2018. The court affirmed that the lawful tenure for local government chairmen and councillors remained three years, as stipulated by the 2018 law, stressing that any attempt to extend the tenure was not only unlawful but also violated the officials’ oath of office.

  The Kano State House of Assembly has taken steps to amend the Kano State Emirs (Appointment and Deposition) Law which was previously employed by former governor Abdullahi Ganduje to dethrone the 14th Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II. The decision was made during a plenary session on Tuesday following a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Hussien Dala, who represents the Dala constituency. Monday’s proposed amendments come amidst growing calls for the reinstatement of the deposed Emir Sanusi who was removed from his position in a controversial move in 2020. The dethronement followed the 2019 amendment that divided the historic Kano Emirate into five distinct emirates, creating Rano, Karaye, Gaya, and Bichi Emirates and appointing First Class Emirs to lead them. While presenting the motion, Dala stated, “The need to revisit the Emirs Law has become imperative to address the issues that have arisen from the 2019 amendment. We must ensure that our traditional institutions are governed by laws that reflect fairness and justice.” There has been significant public pressure to restore Muhammad Sanusi II to his former position. A resident of Kano, Mallam Ibrahim Musa, expressed his hope for Sanusi’s return, saying, “Sanusi is a man of integrity and vision. His removal was a great loss to Kano, and bringing him back would be a step towards rectifying past wrongs.” The amendment process will involve thorough scrutiny and possible public hearings to ensure all voices are heard. The Speaker of the House, Abdulaziz Garba Gafasa, emphasized the importance of transparency and inclusiveness in the legislative process. “We are committed to conducting a fair and open amendment process. All stakeholders will have the opportunity to contribute to the discussions,” he assured. As the amendment process unfolds, the people of Kano await the potential reshaping of their traditional leadership landscape, hopeful that the changes will bring about a more harmonious and respected emirate system.

  A popular pastor, Stanley Ogbonna, has allegedly driven his estranged wife, Chioma, and six children out of their house in Abuja. Ogbonna, a General Overseer of the God’s Spring Assembly, also known as Glass Church, Kubwa, Abuja, was said to be in an unsettling relationship with his wife, which led to their divorce. He was accused of telling the court he had sold his properties to prevent the embattled wife from having a share of his wealth. In a clip that went viral on social media platforms on Tuesday, Chioma was seen accusing the pastor of infidelity and domestic abuse, among others. She narrated how she had suffered with the pastor for over 18 to 19 years with six children and how the husband had packed his properties out of the house while sleeping around with different women. She said, “See him, God will help me. This is a pastor. Look at him. This is the pastor, Stanley Ogbonna. He called the police and evicted me and the children out of the house. “Look at me, look at my properties all outside unannounced. We were in the house this afternoon; he just came to the house with the police and threw my things away. He already packed his things out of the house for years, sleeping around. “Today, he has come to disgrace me after labouring with him for 18 years, 19 years. See what the General Overseer of God’s Wing Assembly, Glass Church, Kubwa, is doing. I’m his wife, who laboured with him for 19 years. “The world needs to come into this and give me justice for suffering me for all these years after giving him six children. His last child is a four-year-old. “Look at me outside and my properties. He feels nobody will speak for me. Jehovah will speak for me,” Chioma added. Efforts to reach the pastor and the church to discuss the wife’s allegation proved abortive. The church’s inquiry number was unreachable, and the mail sent has not been replied to as of the time of filing this report. On April 18, the church held a programme titled “Happy Birthday in perfect grace” to celebrate Ogbonna’s birthday.