By Dorcas Samson Achi 

The United Nations General Assembly on the 19th of December, 2011 adopted Resolution 66/170 to declare October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child, to recognize girls’ rights and the unique challenges girls face around the world.

The International Day of the Girl Child focuses attention on the need to address the challenges girls face and to promote girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

As the world celebrates 2024 Girlchild day with the theme "Girls’ vision for the future", the future comes to mind. How can girls especially in Africa be assisted to achieve their goals and realise their full potentials. Too many girls are still denied their rights, with their choices restricted and their futures limited.

The struggle of a girl child begins even before her conception. Most couple desires a female child after the male child has been born.  In India, female foeticide is a worrying practice, as cheap abortion technology allows households to exercise their preference for sons over daughters. She is ‘lucky’ if she is allowed to be born. Even after birth, the girl child faces discrimination and oppression. Sometimes she is not provided with proper nutrition compared to her male siblings, her education is not given much attention and in many cases, parents prefer their sons to continue schooling while their daughters marry immediately.  After marriage, the trials faced by some women do not end as some continue to face oppression and even violence in their marital home. 

How can the birth of the girl child be greeted with absolute joy without reservations? In Igboland we know what it means for a woman to give birth to only daughters, it means that she is not yet settled. Her stay can be challenged at any time. Her peace of mind is not guaranteed. She must give birth to a boy to relax else her position may be disputed or shared. Even when the husband wants to allow her some peace in his house, his kinsmen will trouble and give him several threats of taking away his inherited property. It's disheartening when a woman survives the pains of the labour room only for the husband to frown at her and her new born daughter. It is worse when the mother hates the innocent baby just like her father because of her gender. It is okay to have only one female child but very risky to have one male child. There is this particular deep sigh of relief an Igbo man heaves when his male child is born. It's incomparable. It's in their mindset. Many couples abort their female children, thereby denying them the opportunity to live, grow and achieve. If Prof. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala was aborted, she won't become a great woman today.

This year’s theme conveys the indisputable need to invest in girls and to secure their futures. Despite the fact that girls are affected by global crises of climate, conflict, poverty and pushback on hard won gains for human rights and gender equality, yet, there are analytical proves that girls are not only courageous in the face of crisis, but hopeful for the future. This is evident in their direct and indirect actions to realize a vision of a world in which all girls are protected, respected and empowered.

Undoubtedly, girls cannot realize their vision alone. They need allies who listen to and respond to their needs. It is time to listen to girls, to invest in proven solutions that will accelerate progress towards a future in which every girl can fulfil her potential.

With the right support, resources and opportunities, the potential of the world’s more than 1.1 billion girls is limitless. And when girls lead, the impact is immediate and wide reaching, positively affecting families, communities and economies.

Investing in a Girlchild does not benefit her alone but brings positive impacts to families, communities, and societies as a whole. Girls should be helped to find their footings and despite gender inequalities across industries, be able to consistently forge ahead, shattering glass ceilings. 

A woman is like a teabag, you can never tell how strong she is until you put her in a hot water. Girls can make extraordinary strides when they are equipped intellectually, socially, morally and economically to exploit their time, their right and their future.

Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar, the architect of the Constitution of India once said, “I measure the progress of a community by the degree of progress which women have achieved.” A country that empowers women empowers every individual! We have to start with protecting the girl child, ensuring that her birth is greeted with joy and she receives all the care and love needed to grow to her full potential. As a woman, we need to work to ensure that she gets every opportunity to realise her potential. By celebrating, protecting and educating the girl child, we empower her. By empowering our daughters we empower our communities which means empowering the nation! 

Adolescent girls have the right to a safe, educated, and healthy life, not only during these critical formative years, but also as they mature into women. If effectively supported during the adolescent years, girls have the potential to change the world – both as the empowered girls of today and as tomorrow’s workers, mothers, entrepreneurs, mentors, household heads, and political leaders.

Girls are breaking boundaries and barriers posed by stereotypes and exclusion, including those directed at children with disabilities and those living in marginalized communities. As entrepreneurs, innovators and initiators of global movements, girls are creating a world that is relevant for them and future generations.

The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in 2015, embody a roadmap for progress that is sustainable and leaves no one behind.

Achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment is integral to each of the 17 goals. Only by ensuring the rights of women and girls across all the goals will we get to justice and inclusion, economies that work for all, and sustaining our shared environment now and for future generations.

In Nigeria, there are glaring obstacles barricading young girls from actualising their dreams and goals. Lack of quality education, poor health care, lack of basic amenities, no enabling environment, family dynamics and lots more are serious challenges to young girls. To ensure the sustainable development of Nigerian girls, the government must improve our educational and health care system, provide social amenities and create enabling environment for our girls to thrive by ensuring security of lives and property of the citizens.

Many campaigns have been carried out to address a wide variety of issues of violence, subjugation and discrimination against women, the need to recognize and celebrate women’s place in the world of work, and efforts to ensure women’s access to property, including housing and agricultural land.

We must start making significant steps to correct the obstacles faced by the girl child. 

There is need to spread awareness and change mindsets to ensure that communities and families welcome and celebrate daughters.

Education for all girl children should be encouraged. Some parents prefer sending their daughters to hawk goods instead of sending them to school. We must say no to child marriage which exposes the girl children to all forms of health hazards, matrimonial damages and even death.

A safe environment should be created for all women and women’s resistance to violence must be supported. 

It is important to mobilize society, private enterprise and the government to recognize and celebrate women in the world of work as well as recognize, redistribute and reduce care work.

Decent work, fair and equal wages and a safe working environment for women must be ensured. The society must ensure that women have access to property, including house and lands. This will in no small measure bring equity and fairness in our today society.

... insists Demands Not Met

Activist and Social Crusader, Comrade Nnamdi Samson Achi has said that President Ahmed Bola Tinubu's address to the Nigerian populace on the 4th of August was below the expectations of Nigerians who are disgruntled by the unprecedented economic downturn and inflation rate attributed to the APC administration. 

The youthful leader stated this on the 5th of August in Owerri during a press interactive session where he vehemently condemned the fact that a presidential address of such magnitude, given the situation of the country, could not address demands of the protesters which actually necessitated the address. 

He stated that Mr. President was only eager to tell the protesters to stop protesting, citing violence, stealing and recklessness from some protesters. He emphasized that it is almost impossible to behave well in the face of extreme hunger, starvation and unfavourable government policies, adding that bad economy sponsors crime and criminality.

"Whoever is not hungry or starving currently in Nigeria must be aggrieved with the sudden high cost of commodities especially edibles in the market. No one goes to the market these days without feeling the heat of this present hardship. Even the seemingly rich are complaining. Everyone is protesting even those who are publicly defending the abject failures of this government. Let us applaud those who were courageous enough to go to the streets. It is our right to loudly express our grievances on the errors of this administration", he reiterated. 

He berated the fact that those at the helm of affairs always urge citizens to endure the current hardship until the situation improves yet are spending billions in purchasing cars and renovating houses of office holders while the masses are dying of excruciating hunger. 

He urged Nigerian government to bring quick solutions to the demands of the protesters and address the plights of the masses especially by taking immediate measures to ensure food production and reduction in the cost of food items considering the present hunger.

Achi suggested that since the president has declared his openness for dialogue, let the dialogue be healthy, stating clearly the foreseeable steps that shall be taken to reduce the exorbitant cost of goods and services in the country, how to  provide incentives to farmers and secure farm lands to protect farmers from terrorists and as well preserve their crops by storage during harvest.

... insists Demands Not Met

Activist and Social Crusader, Comrade Nnamdi Samson Achi has said that President Armed Bola Tinubu's address to the Nigerian populace on the 4th of August was below the expectations of Nigerians who are disgruntled by the unprecedented economic downturn and inflation rate attributed to the APC administration. 

The youthful leader stated this on the 5th of August in Owerri during a press interactive session where he vehemently condemned the fact that a presidential address of such magnitude, given the situation of the country, could not address demands of the protesters which actually necessitated the address. 

He stated that Mr. President was only eager to tell the protesters to stop protesting, citing violence, stealing and recklessness from some protesters. He emphasized that it is almost impossible to behave well in the face of extreme hunger, starvation and unfavourable government policies, adding that bad economy sponsors crime and criminality.

"Whoever is not hungry or starving currently in Nigeria must be aggrieved with the sudden high cost of commodities especially edibles in the market. No one goes to the market these days without feeling the heat of this present hardship. Even the seemingly rich are complaining. Everyone is protesting even those who are publicly defending the abject failures of this government. Let us applaud those who were courageous enough to go to the streets. It is our right to loudly express our grievances on the errors of this administration", he reiterated. 

He berated the fact that those at the helm of affairs always urge citizens to endure the current hardship until the situation improves yet are spending billions in purchasing cars and renovating houses of office holders while the masses are dying of excruciating hunger. 

He urged Nigerian government to bring quick solutions to the demands of the protesters and address the plights of the masses especially by taking immediate measures to ensure food production and reduction in the cost of food items considering the present hunger.

Achi suggested that since the president has declared his openness for dialogue, let the dialogue be healthy, stating clearly the foreseeable steps that shall be taken to reduce the exorbitant cost of goods and services in the country, how to  provide incentives to farmers and secure farm lands to protect farmers from terrorists and as well preserve their crops by storage during harvest.

By Dorcas Samson Achi 

The Supreme Court declared on Thursday 11th July, 2024 that it is unconstitutional for state governors to hold funds allocated for local government administrations. The seven-man panel, in the judgment delivered by Justice Emmanuel Agim, declared that the 774 local government councils in the country should manage their funds themselves.

The apex court held that the power of the government is portioned into three arms of government, the federal, the state and the local government and it further declared that a state government has no power to appoint a caretaker committee and a local government council is only recognisable with a democratically elected government.

The judgment held that the use of a caretaker committee amounts to the state government taking control of the local government and is in violation of the 1999 Constitution.

The Supreme Court Judgement on Local Government Autonomy has surged many reactions from different angles. Many have expressed hope that it will guarantee absolute financial independence of the Local Government while some doubt the possibility going by obvious realities.

Below are series of opinions of former Imo State Lawmakers regarding local government autonomy. FOMIHA has the following to say. 

Excerpts:

  Rt. Hon. Nnaemeka Mmaduagwu, a former Speaker, Imo State House of Assembly has this to say:

"In my humble opinion, the supreme court decision is against the principle of true federalism. It is also contrary to Section 7 and 8 of the constitution on the issue of local government administration and financing. I think the supreme court judgment is a pragmatic effort at solving the abuse of local government finance by the state governors, but it is a big blow on the issue of true federalism. We cannot be clamoring for restructuring, true federalism and a reduction of the powers of the federal government while at the same time applaud a decision that further increases the power of the federal government while reducing those of the states. I fully acknowledge that the state governors are emasculating the local governments but is the answer direct federal funding?. In my humble opinion the answer is no. Going by the constitution in my opinion, it is better the abuses of joint account by the states are checked if the office of the auditor general and the respective Houses of Assemblies leave up to expectations.  This can only be achieved when we start having proper elections. 

Finally, in my sincere opinion, the Supreme court judgement will not solve any problem in local government administration as the governors will circumvent it by appointing their cronies through sham elections. What I believe will solve Nigeria's problem of bad governance at all levels is proper electoral reform and giving back the people the right to choose and sack those who lead them. That should be the real fight".

 Rt. Hon. Godfrey Kemdi Dikeocha, a former Imo State House of Assembly Speaker stated thus:

"Even though the judgement of the supreme Court on LGA funds has to be accepted as a child of necessity to fill a yawning gap, it must be noted that there is a subsisting Superior Court of record judgement in Balogun Vs Lagos State that Local Governments are agents of the state government and not a federating unit. This judgement has till now not been set aside by any court including the supreme court. LGA autonomy will continue to be a mirage under its present constitutional framework!

Hon. Mike Iheanatu, a former House of Assembly Member for Aboh Mbaise Constituency expressed his thoughts below:

"Let us not deceive ourselves. The Supreme Court did not address the problem of the Local Government, nor did they resolve the quagmire shrouding the failure of the local government in  Nigeria. The issue of direct funding is sacrosanct considering the LGA as a third tier government by virtue of the Federation cliche . 

"The Supreme Court failed to acknowledge LGA as a Federation entity of the Nation by failing to address section 7 and 8 of the constitution which gives the State Houses of Assembly the right to make laws for the smooth running of the LGA [S. 7&8). With this, the State House of Assembly still has and reserves the mighty right to make laws for operation/finance/administration of the  LGA. This is the safe coven for the Houses of Assembly to take control of the LGAs. Asking federal Finance Ministry/AG to directly remit LGA fund to them is indirectly amended in section 7&8 of the constitution.  What they have done is to jump from the ground to the mound, pretending to be above the ground . 

"The system has only anticipated the production of powerful councillors and all mighty leader of council to be having a relationship with the Executive Governor and constant crisis in the LGAs. Welcome to testing testing the democracy echoes in the modern day Nija. I come in peace". 

Hon. Lawman Duruji, a former member for Ihitte Uboma Constituency said the following:

"There is nothing to applaud as far as Imo state is concerned. Recall that a few weeks ago, the House of Assembly clandestinely amended the local government administration laws to tie capital expenditure of the various local governments in the state to exco approval. "The Man" got himself prepared. He is not parting with a dime . Judgement or no judgement, Hope Uzodinma came prepared. Owu ya ka Aba na amuru okpo!Requiem for Imo!"

Hon. Dr. C. Iwuagwu said the following:

"What I am thinking is that the governors will now resort to making sure their surrogates occupy chairmanship positions in every LGA in their states with a view to still manage Local Government Allocations by proxy.  Whether they come into office by INEC or ISIEC, the new law will definitely entrap LGA chairmen who out of power-drunkeness pledge irredeemable commitments and alliances to their State Governors as they ultimately must face EFCC, ICPC alone by themselves".

Hon. C. C. Uba, a former Member for Ideato North Constituency in his words said that 

"The Supreme Court was not asked to REVIEW the constitution, or REFORM the local government administration in Nigeria. Lawyers would say, that the Court is not a Father Christmas.More than that, the Supreme Court has the Supreme Right to Interpret any Part of our constitution, no matter how one feels about it. They are infallible because they are final".

Hon. Ugochukwu Nzekwe, the president of FOMIHA and former Member for Nkwerre Constituency stated thus:

"For the Local Government Autonomy to be effective, there should be a total overhauling of the entire system where the principle of checks and balances apply, and the Judiciary, Executive and the Legislature carry out their functions effectively. 

"The supreme court judgement on LGA autonomy must be implemented for it to be productive. It has to be enforced. It is not enough to deliver judgement on LGA autonomy, strategic steps must be taken to ensure its implementation. 

 "Conduct of LGA elections must be credible, uncompromised, free and fair for the country to achieve absolute LGA autonomy. This will make it possible for elections to be won through the ballot than through appointments at the grassroot level. 

"If INEC conducts LGA elections in Nigeria, it can help different parties to win but even at that some state governors can still use their executive power to influence members of the Assembly to suspend elected Local Government Chairmen using corrupt judges. 

"The judiciary should be strengthen and made independent so that the implementation of this autonomy can be possible especially during post election litigations".

The National President, Ohaneze Youth Council (OYC) Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka has said that the Igbos need referendum as a way of addressing issues of marginalization, injustice, short-changes and political imbalance in Nigeria. 

He stated this in his post on Facebook which reads 

"The history of the genocide against Ndigbo since 54 years ago was subdued, in fact it was because of the genocide against Ndigbo that the subject "History" was banned in schools. But I had to quit from government secondary school and enrolled in a private school where I studied history. 

"Although the world history recorded the 1967-1970 event in Nigeria as Nigeria-Biafra Civil war, but in actual sense, it wasn't a war but a calculated Genocide against Igbo Biafrans.

"The Genocide was a conscious conspiracy to annihilate Igbos from the surface of the earth, like the holocaust against the Jews in 1945

"As a student of act of war and history, the 1967-70 event was not just a war, but Nigeria Government in collaboration with British government committed a world recorded "Genocide against Igbos. It was not a war because they breached the principle/roles of war, they targeted and bombed civilians dominant areas like Markets, School's and Churches in Biafra land. The starvation policy and blockage initiated by Chief Obafemi Awolowo led over One million Biafran kids into Kwashiorkor and death.

"The first sign that confirmed that those singing the song of one Nigeria were resisting Ndigbo to be part of Nigeria was the introduction of the 3R's, Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation. Yet none of the 3R's was implemented in Igbo land or any part of Biafra land.

"I challenge the federal government of Nigeria to show any implementation of 3R's in Igboland or Biafra land. The genocide, carnage and destruction was done in Biafra land, but Reconstruction and Rehabilitation was done in the Northern and Western Nigeria.

"Even immediately the Genocide ended in 1970 the victimization of Ndigbo started, 20 pounds was given to Biafrans irrespective of the amount of money the person has in the bank. So was this a face of Reconciliation to Igbo Biafrans? Was this a sign of reintegration of Ndigbo into Nigeria?

"Fortunately, Ndigbo picked up the pieces of their life with only 20 pounds and went to the North and West, they economically, Politically desired to reintegrated into Nigeria, but those singing the song of one Nigeria Resisted and Rejected them.

"From 1970 Ndigbo the only patriotic Nigerians started developing all the cities in Nigeria. Ndigbo built Lagos, Kaduna, Sokoto, Katsina, Ibadan, Abuja, Jos, Maduguri, Adamawa, Nasarawa and every other cities in Nigeria with 20 pounds, yet Igbos are being maltreated and Rejected in Nigeria.

"Ndigbo have demonstrated spirit of patriotism in Nigeria more than any tribe, yet the worst form of Victimization and maltreatment are done against Ndigbo in Nigeria police force, DSS, Immigration officers, Army, Navy, Air force, Custom, some agencies and other institutions.

"There's always a different law for an Igbo person in any issue that concerns him or her in Nigeria.

"The litmus test that shows that Ndigbo are resisted and rejected to be part of Nigeria is the 2023 presidential election where Peter Obi pulled all Nigerians to polling units, but the result was written and manipulated because Peter Obi is an Igbo man. In the history of Nigeria politics there's no Nigeria presidential candidate that has more popularity and acceptability by common masses like Peter Obi. Peter Obi broke a history in Nigeria politics, the Poor Masses were freely contributed money and used their funds organized campaigns for Mr. Peter Obi. Those that have never voted in any election in Nigeria decided and enrolled in voters registration, obtained voters card and casted their votes to Mr. Peter Obi.

"The presidential election Petition Tribunal changed the law, 25% votes for FTC was buried because it's about an Igbo man.

"Nigeria is like a football pitch at any time an Igbo player picked up the ball and lifted his leg to kick the ball to the goal post, the Referee will blow the whistle and changed the Goalpost.

"Nigeria was structured by Britain to be a failed State, the more Nigeria is failing and collapsing the more Britain is developing and waxing strong, that's why an Igbo man can't be the president of Nigeria. An Igbo man becoming president of Nigeria is obstructing Neocolonialism in Nigeria. So Britain prefer power toasting from Hausa/Fulani and Yoruba to hold Nigeria under Political cum Economic hostage and salvitude

"This is what Mallam Aminu Kano saw over 50 years ago and stated that " the Movement of Nigeria is one step forward and two steps backward" 

"This is really the definition of Nigeria as it continue to deteriorating every year. The future of Nigeria is worst than the present today. Those crying for hard time should wait for another harder time if the present structure of Nigeria remain the same.

"There's only two options for the survival of Ndigbo in Nigeria; the First option is disintegration from Nigeria like the USSR. The Second option is regional Government. The second option is the temporary solution, but the first option is permanent solution. You can take this statement to the Bank.

"It's very easy and not a hard task to use leg to cross Atlantic Ocean but it's a very hard and a life threatening risk to remain in Nigeria as an Igbo person.

"Nigeria is a gold mining ground for Politicians who reports to Britain and her allies. Nigeria Politicians are Sepulcher that shines outside but rotten inside.

"There was no agitation of Igbos to Separate from Nigeria from 1970 to 1998, until 1999 when Bar. Raph Uwazuruike and Co formed Movement For Actualization State Of Biafra(MASOB). Unfortunately, Uwazuruike was arrested, detained, tortured, silenced until Comrade Uche Madu took over the leadership of Movement For Actualization State Of Biafra(MASOB)

"Nigeria Government thought it's over until in 2012 Mazi Nnamdi Kanu the leader of Indigenous People Of Biafra(IPOB) came to limelight and became popular. If Ndigbo where not rejected and resisted to be part of Nigeria, Nnamdi Kanu wouldn't have gathered such millions of defunct State of Biafrans as followers.

"The crowd following Nnamdi Kanu defines the level of Marginalization, Victimization, Oppressiveness and Hate against Ndigbo in Nigeria.

To demonstrate the hate against Ndigbo Nnamdi Kanu was arrested in 2015 and released in 2017. In attempt to silence Nnamdi Kanu how they silenced Ralph Uwazuruike the mini-genocide against Ndigbo especially targeted at Igbos Youths in Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), the operation Python Dance was launched and there was military attack at Afaraukwu Ibeku Nnamdi Kanu's country home in an attempt to kill him, over 180 Igbo Youths were massacred under the supervision of Gov Okezie Ikpeazu and PG of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide Chief Nnia Nwodo. It was blood dance in Afaraukwu Ibeku Umuahia, not a python dance.

"The hate and victimization of Ndigbo continued by president Mohammadu Buhari led federal government of Nigeria in 2021 Nnamdi Kanu was abducted in Kenya and since then incarcerated in DSS dungeon.

"SouthEast Geopolitical Zone has been a peaceful Zone in Nigeria but in order to demonize Indigenous People Of Biafra(IPOB) Owerri Prison break took place in 2021, immediately the then Inspector General of police Mohammed Adamu fingered IPOB before 24hrs of the incident.

"With the incident and circumstances that surrounds the Jail break in Owerri we have not hide our feelings that then former president Mohammed Buhari sponsored the crime against the state in a desperate sinister move to satisfy International community to tagged IPOB a Terrorist organization.

"Owerri Prison is located at about one minutes from Imo State Government House, three minutes to State Police headquarters and ten minutes to 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, yet the Jail breakers committed this heinous crime about four hours, freed over 1800 inmates there was no reprisal attack from police at State headquarter, Armed prison officers, Security men with Machine Guns at Government house in addition to about two Army Generals that are living two minutes away to the Owerri Prison. And federal government told us it was done by IPOB. What a tale of moonlight!

"We have not hide our feelings that former president Mohammadu Buhari sponsored unknown Gunmen in SouthEast to demonize IPOB and tagged them a Terrorist organization.

"Former president Mohammadu Buhari must account for the carnage, Arson and destruction that took place in Southeast from event of Owerri Prison break in 2021 till date.

"As regards Owerri Prison break there should be a forensic, scientific, pictorial evidence, demonstrative evidence, footage evidence, and all forms of investigation on the carnage that befall SouthEast the most peaceful Zone in Nigeria under President Mohammadu Buhari.

"If Nigeria is a democratic country, if Nigeria was not created to victimize Ndigbo former president Mohammadu Buhari and former Attorney general of the federal Abubakar Malami should be arrested for questioning on the rains of bullets that took place in Southeast with the commission of Unknown Gunmen in their administration.

"Nnamdi Kanu should be released unconditionally, any condition that's opposite to the views of Millions of Youths Igbos and Pro-Biafrans will give rise to other agitators that will give birth to other Pro-Biafran groups that are more determined, focused, strategic than what we're seeing in IPOB today.

"There are millions of the likes of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu among the Igbo youths today watching with keen interest, if those singing for one Nigeria silence Nnamdi Kanu some Youths more fearless and courageous than Nnamdi Kanu will emerge.

"Igbos are rejected in Nigeria and such chronic rejection will to give birth to a new country for Ndigbo. Ndigbo must re-unite now like the JEWS and build a nation. Ndigbo must realize now that their population is Nine times the population of Israel. Ndigbo will be far better than any country in Africa if they secede from this contraption called Nigeria. And they will lead other African countries to the path of Socio-cultural, political, economic and scientific development.

"Referendum is not a call for war, it's a call for peace to recheck co-existence of a people. Ndigbo need referendum.

Let Igbos Be Served With Referendum As Breakfast.

"Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka

National President General, Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC)"

By Dorcas Samson Achi 

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Imo State Commandant, Matthew Sunday Ovye has successfully completed two years of quality service delivery in Imo with notable achievements. 

The Academia who joined the force as a volunteer has distinguished himself with integrity, quality service delivery, visible professionalism, and staunch dedication to duty, which has seen him excelling beyond bounds. 

The Nassarawa State Born graduate of Geology and Mining, started off as a classroom teacher, taught in the secondary school, worked with the Teachers Service Commission before joining the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) as a volunteer, from where he rose to Assistant Superintendent of Corps 2 and progressed to become the Commandant and was posted to Imo State. Undoubtedly, Imolites have so far enjoyed his stewardship and unparalleled service to humanity. 

Commandant Ovye was posted in Imo State on the 4th of July 2022, when Imo was the hotbed of criminality, social vices, insecurity and activities of unknown gunmen. His arrival and assumption of duty were greeted with sundry security cases ranging from vandalism, oil bunkering activities and destruction of electrical equipments and pipelines by criminals, with large concentration on the oil producing area of the state. These evils were perpetuated on a daily basis by saboteurs of government without them entertaining any iota of fear of being arrested, captured or being punished according to law. 

Being a committed and proactive security expert who understands the hazards and menace of oil theft and its destructions to the economy of the state, Ovye declared instant war against oil bunkering and vandalism by immediately ensuring his security torch reached everywhere and within four days in Imo, arrested seven truck loads of bunkered products and made the culprits to face the law.

He quickly constituted a fresh anti-vandal team which he mandated to work in all the LGAs of the state in collaboration with other security agencies to ensure eradication of social vices. Even though it is almost impossible to eradicate crime but NSCDC under the able leadership of Ovye has drastically reduced crime in the state. Imo is no longer bedeviled by thuggery, banditry, killings, maimings, violence and all forms of criminality as it were. It is now very difficult to see trucks carrying bunkered products in the state because the Corps' eagle eyes are everywhere, to ensure sanity and peace in the state.

The arrests and prosecutions of vandals in Imo in several courts of competent jurisdiction within the country, are testaments to Ovye's unwavering courage and daring capacity to fight criminality. Records have shown that there are over 30 cases of bunkering activities and other social vices running in the courts at different levels of completion. 

 Ovye's concerns and vast knowledge of  the consequences of artisanal oil refining which ranges from environmental degradation, loss of lives/resources, health challenges, effect on the national economy, loss of livelihoods and food security, keeps propelling him to champion and intensify education on health related impacts of oil spillage, illegal oil refining and explosion, using every means at his disposal. 

The Commandant has proved himself as a dedicated and professional security officer who does not trivialize his duties. At the Corps, he has provided transparent, accountable and responsible leadership undergirded by discipline, civility and respect for human dignity. Under his leadership, we have seen great reduction in oil theft, human casualties and social vices. 

His absolute dedication to Save the School Innovative Program for the protection of vulnerable schools across the state ably pioneered by the NSCDC Commandant General, Dr. Armed Abubukar Audi, mni, OFR, deserves unceasing accolades. Imo State is among the states in the nation that are reaping the enormous harvests of the positive impacts of Save the School Initiative by NSCDC. 

Ovye has utilized this project to build a strong relationship between the Corps and the students/youths where the latter is sensitized, enlightened and informed on the dangers of involvement in crime, violence, social vices, insecurity, crime, drug use, kidnapping for ransom, recruitment into and membership of dangerous criminal gangs etc, and subsequently, engaged to become responsible members of the society. 

His synergy with parents and teachers in handling delinquencies in students and pupils is producing effective results, as the Corps have employed necessary disciplinary, counseling and therapeutic measures to effect positive changes in the children. 

He has prioritized Save the School Initiative, and remained committed to his "catch them young" mantra, with the hope of achieving a safe and sustainable society for all, both now and in the future. 

Together with the specialized Save School Team he set up, which collaborates with NSCDC's Female Strike Force and the Rapid Response Squad, moving round schools; they have been able to accelerate progress and meet up with the agenda of the Corps. 

Ovye ensures that the team tours every school in the 27 LGAs of the state, in its advocacy and crusade against indiscipline, misconducts and malfeasance in pupils and students. 

 His profound efforts have made Save the School Initiative continue to yield enormous results, which is evident in the arrest and dispossession of the weapons and charms of many students who pervert and distort the harmony, tranquility and conducive learning culture in our academic environments. These students when arrested are brought to the Command, their parents invited, and healthy interactions ensues, after which they are handed over to the chaplain and counselors of NSCDC, who are professionally trained and well equipped to unravel truths from them, then counsel and pray for them and also follow them up in a bid to helping them abstain from their wrongdoings and turn a new leaf.

The results of Save the School Initiative may not be so paramount now but in future we all shall reap the good fruits of the efforts of NSCDC. The Corps' success in positively capturing the minds of these children in primary and secondary schools, will immensely benefit generations to come. Youths' restiveness and exuberance will be checked, while their energy, creativity and sagacity shall be channelled into useful engagements.

Matthew Sunday Ovye is a very disciplined, calm and simple officer, who is totally unaffected by the encomiums he receives from people who appreciate his remarkable efforts in combating crime in Imo, instead gives great kudos to the governor of Imo State, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma for his immense support and provisions to security agencies in the state and for making work easy for them. According to him, the governor prioritizes the security of lives and properties of Imolites against all odds and can adopt any means within his capacity to ensure that Imolites are save and secured to carry out their legitimate duties. 

Ovye's administration has proven that the Corps is committed to their constitutional mandate of protecting our  communities against crime and insecurity, as they toil day and night to contribute their best towards maintaining absolute order, security, peace, prosperity and development in Imo State.

By Dorcas Samson Achi 

Following the fatal accident that occured at the Imo State University Junction on the 18th of May, 2024, Former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Imo State, Prof. Francis Dike, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, has faulted the new speed bumps recently placed on Orji/Owerri lanes. 

In a statement signed by him, he commended the authorities for their quick reaction, describing such intervention as evidence of concern for Imo citizens, while revealing that the speed bumps are not actually the necessary safety measures required. 

His words "May I respectfully submit that this is the wrong thing to do on those lanes. From my experience and the little knowledge left of the physics I learned at school, the explanation of most accidents there is due to the jilopy juggernauts failing brakes and in the descent gather speed before they plunge into people. A speed bump will only exacerbate things by telescoping the juggernauts and making them plunge into the area, probably with whiplash effects. Such a scenario will spell Armageddon and Chukwuabiama kere uwa forbid that on His people. 

"I have heard many suggestions, including flyover, but that does not address the root cause of 'brake failure' by juggernauts. Not to put too fine a point, the problem is brake failure by jillopy juggernauts. The solution must be to my mind, getting rickety juggernauts and vehicles off our roads. The authorities must see that these rejects or scraps elsewhere are off our roads or at least go for maintenance tests every other month. 

"Around 2012, I was a victim of one of them at Amaraku and inspite of the vehicle not having certificate of road worthiness, no Insurance and no consistent Registration plates, the Police released the vehicle to the owner few days later without compliance". 

He cited the case of a young girl who was involved in the same road accident disaster with him. 

According to him, the poor teenage girl's parent's cry for treatment expenses was met with the DPO retorting if the vehicle owner is Dangote to be required to pay for all that deposit?, adding that it is very regretful that the poor girl has been ruined for life following the accident, but most unfortunate that our cruel society goes on mindless.