De Patriot

By Suyi Ayodele Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu is the Chairman of the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Council of Elders. The octogenarian has been in the news in the last four days for the wrong reasons. His outburst at the one-year anniversary of Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State against the Yoruba of the South-West is the reason everyone is baying for his blood. And those calling for his blood are justified. While speaking at the occasion, Chief Iwuanyanwu uttered the following words: “Yorubas (sic) are just political rascals, and we are going to handle them”. The Ohanaeze chieftain was referring to the harassment of Igbo in Lagos during the February 25 and March 18 elections. He was pained. Now, a few Nigerians were and are pained by the unfortunate incidents in Lagos. The elderly man said before his “Yoruba rascals” statement earlier: “So, I want those who are from Lagos to go home and tell those in Lagos that we have resolved that never again can we allow anybody to take the life of...

  By Ijeoma Umeh  Benin City - Encomiums were yesterday showered on the Edo State Government  for setting up the Edo State Private Properties Protection Committee, described by many as Peace Advocates.  While sitting to hear 28 cases involving land grabbing and related disputations yesterday, Thursday,  March 23 in Government House, Benin City,  the Committee headed by Hon Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga (Retd),  was described by some Petitioners and Respondents as being  in the frontline of advocacies towards restoring peace and harmonious living in Edo communities.  The Committee has overtime recorded landmark resolutions in addressing issues of land grabbing and in methodically guiding parties towards relinquishing vice-like grips on people's properties,   and enabling aggrieved parties get justice.   Several of the cases involving land grabbing which came up for hearing yesterday were reported by both Investigat...

Edo South Senatorial District PDP Chieftain,  Elder (Chief) Dickson Imasogie has sued for peaceful co-existence among Nigerians during and after the Ramadan .  The PDP Chieftain, who issued his Ramadan message at his country home in Benin City, tasked Muslim faithfuls to imbibe the creeds in the Holy Quran during and after the Ramadan  In his statements, "Ramadan marks the beginning of fasting and sober reflection of our lives in the Islamic calendar. As we begin the Ramadan, we shouldn't throw caution into the wind and we should remember the needy around us and give succour to them. We should try as much as possible to  refrain from act inimical or capable of jeopardizing our  chances of eternal life", he said.  The Elder Statesman and PDP Chieftain commended Edolites for their peaceful conduct before and during the Presidential, National Assembly and the  State House of Assembly Elections. He admonished Edolites to replicate their peacefu...

. Speaker Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Marcus Onobun ksc has urged Muslim Umah to remember the Nation in their prayers, as they commence the holy month of Ramadan . Rt.Hon. Marcus Onobun ksc who is also the Member Elect for Esan West, Esan central and Igueben Constituency at the House of Representatives called for prayers for security, growth and development of okpebholo constituency in particular, Edo State and Nigeria in general. Rt.Hon. Marcus Onobun in his words " This is a time for renewed hope in the country as the country just concluded general elections in which alot of issues were raised but in all we need to pray for unity, growth and progress of all" " I urge all Muslim Umah to in this month of fasting and prayers to become more charitable towards all irrespective of religion, class or Creed" " I pray that this holy month of Ramadan bring spiritual  renewal, increased devotion, love towards all and may all your Duas be grant...

By Suyi Ayodele Those who used Oro to win elections on March 18 are already back in the churches and mosques for thanksgiving. The pastors and the imams did not chase them away. Their thanksgiving offering and sadaqah were well received and ‘blessed’. The Muslims among them will start the 30-day Ramadan fast later this week. Their Christian counterparts are observing Lent, already. I am also putting my pastorate on notice. Nobody should doubt my spirituality after this outing. Thankfully enough, I have another two weeks to do penitence before the next Holy Communion service in April. I would have been in the "State of Grace" to partake in the spiritual meal. God, forgive your son all his shortcomings (Amen). Let somebody shout Hallelujah! My people say a man lives according to the epoch he finds himself in. Let us do Oro today. First, my tribute to the owners of this world (iba awon to n’ile aye). Oro is not common. It is not a daylight affair. It is a deity that ...

By Suyi Ayodele   Someone staked his claim to the presidency of Nigeria with the audacious slogan of Emi L'okan (it is my turn). And he seems to have got it using the Hausa/Fulani/ Kanuri alliance to drive his claim. The real owners of Lagos are on the street now demanding their right to rule themselves. They seem to be saying, "Awa L'okan” (it is our turn), also forging an alliance with southern ethnic groups, particularly the Igbo. Now, the ajoji godogbo (audacious alien) is jittery and threatening the landlord because the owner wants to rule his land. For those who think only the Igbo are behind the February 25 tsunami in Lagos, if truly they are Yoruba and have roots in the Yoruba cosmology, I recommend them to find out the full meaning of the name of a renowned Babalawo of yore: Kuro-ki-Onile-jeun (leave so that the owner of the house can eat). Kuro-ki-Onile-jeun has two other siblings: Oju (Eye) and Ahinhun (The one who snores). These trio were the powers...