10/30/2003
opinion Lagos - The greatest challenge confronting Nigerian politics and or politicians today would not so much be on how well the soldiers are permanently kept out of the partisan turf, as in how well to recreate the all important confidence among the masses of our people. Over the decades, the screaming expectations and investments in eldoradal hopes by these masses had been met with such scuffling disdain and levity, that had inevitably cast a big question mark on the legitimacy of the authority which our political class exercise. And as politics struggles to wriggle out of the infamy of disappointment and outright falsehood in which it has been coloured, politicians are on their own, the more confronted with the burden of the stigma of been generally seen as leeches, desperadoes and swindlers whose words should better not be believed.10/20/2003
Owerri - Scores of officers and men of Imo State police command at the weekend, took strategic positions in all the 27 local government areas of the state, following reports that members of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), would declare their dream republic on October 18, 2003. Vanguard gathered that in the three senatorial zones of the state, stern looking police men and other plain clothed security operatives, were busy observing movements, as well as kept vigil at Ahiara, Mbaise and Okwe, Onuimo country home of the MASSOB leader, Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.10/16/2003
Owerri - IMO State Police Command has described as "a blatant lie and senseless diversionary tactic," insinuations about alleged plot to assassinate the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike.The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Mr. Joseph Ibi, made the denial while speaking to Vanguard correspondent in Owerri, on the issue.10/08/2003
Port Harcourt - A COALITION of eleven South-South groups has warned the Nigeria Police to refrain from shooting protesters during the planned NLC strike in protest against fuel price like "as was the case last July." The groups which included Civil Rights and Development Organisation (CRIDO), Ohaneze Youth Council (OYC) and MASSOB, said in a statement signed by their leaders in Port Harcourt that Nigerians should cooperate with NLC and go on strike.10/06/2003
Port Harcourt - Ten leading Human Rights and Non-governmental organisations (NGO) in the country have jointly called on the Federal Government to constitute an open judicial panel of inquiry to determine the cause(s) and circumstances surrounding the death of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) vice presidential candidate, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo.10/03/2003
Lagos - ANXIETY over the state of the body of former Senate President, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo, was doused yesterday as the police finally released the corpse to the bereaved family on the orders of the coroner. The development came as civil society organisations in Rivers State called for the immediate sack of the Inspector- General of Police (IGP), Mr. Tafa Balogun, over the circumstances preceding the death, particularly the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) rally in Kano where the late Okadigbo, according to the party, was allegedly tear-gassed.10/03/2003
Port Harcourt - A COALITION of South-South groups say the late Dr. Chuba Okadigbo never suffered from asthma and was not attacked with a regular tear gas at the Kano ANPP rally but by "expired and poisonous canister of teargas."10/01/2003
Port Harcourt - COALITION of Igbo Youths Organisations (CIYO) has called for a judicial panel of enquiry to look into the circumstances surrounding the death of ANPP Vice-Presidential Candidate in the last election, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo.
