NASS Member Institutes Annual Bursary Awards

by Moses Adediran, Enugu

The member representing Igbo- Etiti / Uzo Uwani of Enugu State at the Federal House of representative Hon. Paul Eze has instituted an annual bursary award for students of his constituency.

The bursary award had 150 beneficiaries drawn from various higher institutions of learning in the state according to the benefactor “the scheme, was introduced to assist less privileged students in the constituency”.

“My plan is to make it a yearly affair which will eventually be transformed into a scholarship scheme” he said.
Eze further promised to continue in his assistance to alleviate poverty at the grassroots but urged them not to relent in their support for him.

“Our people are so poor the students need encouragement, but i promise to continue in alleviating poverty provided they do not waver in their own support. We pledge to do more than we have done”. he said.

He also disclosed that in partnership with the state government, the National Assembly members from Enugu State have decided to purse agricultural scheme vigorously so as to boost food production in the state.
According to him part of the scheme included revitalization of Ada Rice as well as Adada dam which will make irrigation possible in the area.

In his remark, the chairman of the occasion and one time commissioner for health, Dr. Simon Idike described the bursary award as a milestone in the history of the constituency.
According to him the legacy that a child could be given is in the area of education.
Highpoint of the occasion was the disbursement of bursary awards to 150 students with each of them getting N10, 000.

Fulani Attacks: Ohaji People Now Under Siege

by Chidiebere Iwuoha, Owerri

The last may not have been heard about the incessant attacks and killings of innocent farmers in Imo State by Fulani cattle rearers/herdsmen, especially as it appears that the Police and vigilante personnel deployed to different villages are incapable of arresting the situation.

Some five years ago, a report was made to the Imo State House of Assembly on the menace of Fulani herdsmen and their cattle, stating how crops were destroyed. Several meetings between the Imo State lawmakers and the cattle owners, including the Head of Hausa community on one hand, and between the police and the cattle owners were held, with a promise that the ugly incident would not rear its ugly head again. But recent happenings suggest that the end is not yet in sight. And that if unchecked, the recent Jos mayhem will be a child's play.

A few months ago, Imo people woke up to hear of how a farmer from Irette, Owerri West L.G.A was murdered by Fulani herdsmen whose cattle were fond of destroying crops on Irette farmlands. Nearly two months ago, it was the turn of Ihiagwa also in Owerri West, when a young woman was raped to death by these herdsmen following an attack on the villagers.

This dastardly act has now been extended to Ohaji Egbema L.G.A where about five villages viz Ihie, Umuapu, Obiti, Awara and Akanu are now under siege over the gruesome attacks of these herdsmen. About five people are reportedly dead now.

The spokeswoman of the women who stormed the Imo State House of Assembly to State their grievances to the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Goodluck Opiah, Mrs. Martina Eze disclosed how the Fulani herdsmen drove them out of their villages after destroying their farmlands with their cattle and in the process maimed and killed their relations.

Even though the Speaker, represented by his Deputy, Hon. Jonas Okeke assured them of looking into the problem, they were not satisfied because nothing was done in the past to save the situation. The women remained in the premises of the Assembly and demanded that policemen should immediately follow them to their villages if the Speaker was sure of his words. As at the time of filling this report, their demand was not yet met, which made the women to start considering the next alternative ie going to the Imo State Government House to see the Chief Executive.