IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!!!!

LOWER NIGER CONGRESS SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

ON REFERENDUM & COMMENCEMENT OF REGISTRATION OF 3 MILLION VOLUNTEERS IN PREPARATION FOR THE FORTHCOMING REFERENDUM IN THE LOWER NIGER TERRITORY.

WHEREAS:
(a) By RESOLUTION 2, of the SOLEMN ASSEMBLY OF THE PEOPLES OF THE LOWER NIGER IN PORT HARCOURT, 27TH APRIL, 2015, Convened by the Lower Niger Congress, Accredited Delegates Representing the Ethnic Nationalities of the Lower Niger (being the combined Contiguity of the Old Eastern Region and Midwestern Region of Nigeria), Unanimously Decided that
the political future of the Peoples of the Lower Niger in the failed, fractured, imposed Federation of Nigeria shall go to a Referendum of the Peoples of the Territory.

(b) That SOLEMN ASSEMBLY had Adopted an 1885 Map of the Lower Niger Territory, (which depicts the Geo-Ethnolinguistic diversity of the Territory), as the Geographical basis of a the Prospective Lower Niger Federation, in the inevitable reconfiguration of the distressed Nigeria Union, 100 years after its Amalgamation in 1914, and 50 years after the 1966 collapse of the 5 Constitutions defining the Federation.

(c) The Solemn Assembly Mandated the distillation of a Charter of Relationships that would document the agreements, understandings and consensus amongst the constituent component Nationalities to underpin and define the Federating Constitution for the Territory.
The First Draft of that Charter of Relationships is currently undergoing expert scrutiny and will in the coming days be subjected to a fuller public scrutiny in the Territory of each component Nationality, after which a Joint Inter-Ethnic Review will take place before a Special Delegates Convention to Ratify and Adopt the Charter.

(d) Guided by the Abandoned Property expropriation catastrophe of 1970 and the recent echoes of same, both in the Abuja 2014 National Conference by the Lamido Adamawa, and in Lagos by the Oba of Lagos, in the heat of the 2015 Electoral Round, the Solemn Assembly Mandated an ASSET PROTECTION AND GUARANTEE SCHEME (APGS),to avoid any loss of assets to persons of the Lower Niger Territory, for assets situate outside the Lower Niger.

That Scheme is in place now and will be launched at the Scheduled time for Inventory, Valuation and Documentation.

(e) The Solemn Assembly Mandated the recall home for consultations, of all persons of the Lower Niger, appointed, elected or in anyway, connected with the management of Nigeria, under the Current disputed Constitution 1999 as amended, with a view to determining the propriety or otherwise, of further participation in the affairs of the Union.

(Formal announcements specifying the dates and venues for the Consultations shall be made in due course).

(f) The Solemn Assembly had recounted the story of the 1914 unilateral British annexation of Southern Nigeria to the North in an exercise tagged "Amalgamation", which is too well known to bear any repetition here. It also recounted the story of the collapsed Federal foundations of Nigeria; the bloody War that was fought 1967-1970 against the Breakaway Eastern Region which Declared itself Biafra and all the institutional atrocities post-War, including the imposition of a Constitutional Architecture that expropriate, shackle and enslave the Eastern Half of Southern Nigeria, wrought by the Victorious Alliance of the rest of Nigeria against the East in that War.

(g) It is pertinent to note that the Countrywide demand for Restructuring which is being ignored by the Government of the day; the ubiquitous Military Operations going on in almost all of Nigeria; the several Self-Determination Agitations raging on all over Nigeria, some violent, are all evidence of a Federation that has collapsed and in need of a Grand Renegotiation.

(h) It is beyond disputation, that the current Constitution of Nigeria was enacted and imposed in utter negation of the Peoples' already suppressed Sovereignty cum Right to Self-Determination even as expressely prescribed by Section14(2)(a) of the so-called 1999 Constitution, yet the egregious falsehood of "We the People", proclaimed in the Preamble to that 1999 Constitution foists the authorship of the Document on the entrapped Nationalities. This is a plain fraud and renders the entire 1999 Constitution illegitimate, being a forgery. The entire Structure/Governance founded upon the Constitution 1999 are therefore criminal, to the extent of that false claim.

(i) That by virtue of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007, and in remediation of the aforementioned Constitutional imposition, the Ethnic Nationalities of Nigeria,
particularly in the Lower Niger Territory, being indigenous Peoples of the Territory now fraudulently subsumed by a Suzerainty called "Nigeria", have the Right Self-determination and have thus organized themselves to exercise that Right by way of a Referendum.

(j) The Full Text of the Resolutions of the Solemn Assembly of the Peoples of the Lower Niger, as well as the Public Announcement of that Solemn Assembly, were published unedited as full paid Advertorials in several National Dailies. The Guardian Newspaper of April 26, 2015 has the Announcement in a full page.

Thisday Newspaper of May 7, 2015 has the Full Text of the Resolutions. The NOTICE BOARD of the LNC website www.lnc-usa.org has the Major Public Communications of the LNC including the Resolutions of the Solemn Assembly. The Video of that Solemn Assembly is on YouTube by the name, Solemn Assembly of the Peoples of the Lower Niger

(k) Let it be recalled that by the Joint Declaration of June 30th, 2011, the LNC and its MNN Partners had repudiated the fraudulent 1999 Constitution, as the basis of the Nigerian Federation and had outlined the processes and formations by which the Nationalities entrapped therein would reconstruct their political future within their Rights to Self-determine.

NOW THEREFORE, The Lower Niger Congress posits that:
(1) Sequel to the recent attainment of Key Milestones in the Self-Determination Referendum being processed for the Lower Niger Territory and upon the Advise of LNC Consultants/Project Advisors, the Lower Niger Congress is pleased to announce the Commencement of the Registration of 3 Million Volunteers, to be Processed, Trained and Prepared for Deployment towards various Referendum Tasks including: (i) Mass Education, Mass Enlightenment and Mobilization of Human and Material Resources.
(ii) Voter Registration, Polling Duties including Collation and Archiving.
(iii) Observers' Guide and Assistance
(iv) Field Logistics Management including Storage, Transportation, Distribution
(v) Technical Support, including for Field Surveys; Delineation of Polling Districts, Areas and Units; Enumeration; Systems and Process Integrity.
(vi) Safety Management, Medical Aid and Emergency Management.
(vii) Campaign Management.
(viii) Materials Management.
(ix) International Coordination, covering Diaspora Participation.
(x) Inter-Institutional Coordination
(xi) Post-Vote Transitioning Management.
(xii) General Assistance.

(2) This Lower Niger Referendum Volunteers Registration does not require any Registration Fees or Payment of any kind and shall on a first-come-first-served basis, be open only to persons aged Sixteen years and above (16+), indigenous to the Lower Niger Territory and belonging to any of the Ethnic Nationalities in the Eleven States of the Lower Niger namely, Abia, Akwa-Ibom, Anambra, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo and Rivers, who may wish to participate in the humongous Tasks expected to accompany the Referendum in which we estimate well over 50 Million Voters.

(3) To ease the sorting that would follow the Registration, Volunteers are advised to indicate the Task Area(s), as itemized (i)-(xii) above, which they would prefer to be grouped and assigned into, particularly if such persons have some specialty in the subject area. This will apply more to Professionals and Experts in various Technical Areas as listed above. Each Volunteer can therefore select more than one item.

(4) The Registration Portal for this Referendum Volunteering was opened after weeks of Test Running, at00:00 Hrs, January 1st, 2017 and it shall remain open on a 24-hour basis until the 3 Million Volunteers are received, verified and fully documented.
The LNC Secretariat will revert to each verified Volunteer with further instructions relating to that Volunteer. The Lower Niger Congress website www.lnc-usa.org will have information and updates on the Referendum process. This Volunteers Registration is different from the Voter Registration for the Referendum which shall be undertaken at the scheduled time.

Enquiries
to: +234-810-0569448.
Email: yilncreferendumdesk@gmail.com
Welcome to the year of Jubilee.
Issued this 1st Day of January, 2017.

 Signed: Tony Nnadi.
Secretary-General,
Lower Niger Congress

ANI AHABA HERO AWARD 2016

AWARD TITLES

IMMORTAL HERO
* Chief Dennis C Osadebay
Ani Ahaba Immortal Hero Of the Year.

DIASPORA HEROES
* Akamesike Manuel O' Coney
Ani Ahaba Social-Political Crusader Of The Year.

* Ogbueshi Alfred Nwokobia
Ani Ahaba Community Development Hero Of The Year.

* Mr Lawrence Okolo
Ani Ahaba Social Justice Icon Of The Year.

HOME LAND HEROES
* Obi Engr Godfrey Konwea
Ani Ahaba Red Cap Chieftain Of The Year.

* Surv. (Chief) Anthony Ikechukwu Ashiofu
Ani Ahaba Olinzele Chieftain Of The Year.

* Rt Hon (Chief) Peter Onwusanya
Ani Ahaba Political Leader Of The Year.

* Ogbueshi Peter Ejiofor
Ani Ahaba Entrepreneurship & Youth Development Icon Of The Year.

* Pst Barr Chuks John Obusom
Ani Ahaba Grassroot Administrator Of The Year.

* Ogbueshi Emma Okocha
Ani Ahaba Literary Hero Of The Year.

* Miss Esther Chinonye Onyebuashi
Ani Ahaba Youth Leader Of The Year.

We say congratulations to the above listed Awardees and wish them and their families the very best of the Christmas and New Year Celebrations.

What Deltans Felt About TEAM SMART

* Oshimili South LGA Chapter Excos Inaugurated, Patrons Decorated, Mission Unveiled

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

Yesterday, a Pro-Gov Okowa & state wide political pressure group inaugurated her Oshimili South LGA Chapter executive members.

The political pressure group, TEAM S.M.A.R.T, according to her leadership, prides itself as one of the many grassroot driven pressure groups sensitizing Deltans about the policy thrust and grassroot development strides of the Gov Okowa led Administration.


According to the group's director general, Hon Orishedere Sunny Esheshare, membership comprises of Deltans who share Gov Okowa's visions.

Our membership cuts across both within and outside the PDP, all of us are committed to contribute our material and intellectual resource towards 100% realization of the governor's S.M.A.R.T Agenda.

The governor's S.M.A.R.T Agenda is a strategy for achieving Gov Okowa's Promise of Prosperity for all Deltans as encapsulated in the Delta State Medium Team Development Plan (2015-2019), Hon Orishedere pointed out.

One of the many highlight of the day's success story, was the official inauguration of the Oshimili South LGA chapter by the group's state executives.

In the same vein, both the LGA and ward executives of the political pressure group were formally inaugurated and commissioned to represent the group in the council area.

Our reporter's one on one media chat with some top notch political actors in attendance reviled and spoke volume about the grassroot political platform.

An Oshimili South LGA top notch Political Leader, Ogbueshi Adizue Eluaka, called upon the newly inaugurated LGA and Ward executive leaders to embrace their new political calling with all the seriousness their task requires.

They must seek out every good and creative opportunity to sensitize their fellow grassroot folks around them, energetically about the good works of the governor, Ogbueshi Eluaka encouraged the new leaders.

Alhaji Usman Murktar, a special assistant to the state governor on non-indigenes affairs, reasoned that with works the governor is embarked upon so far, that there is every need to publish and preach same everywhere the group's members find themselves.

Hon Sunny Obi, Special Assistant to the governor on community development and also the group's state organizing secretary, shared that the journey so far piloting the organization has being dotted with advancement and success stories.

Most places we had been to, people listen to our message, ask us questions, we assure them that appropriate authorities will have their concerns attended to.

In all, I can beat my chest with the conviction that in all the places we had taken our messages to, people there appreciated our messages, Hon Sunny Obi maintained.

During the interactive session of the meeting, members from various wards within the council area listed their concerns, urging their leaders to communicate same to the governor.

Some of their concerns included, need for better or new access roads, school rehabilitation and construction of new primary and secondary schools.

Their concerns also included need for construction of ward level health care centers, provision of more health care personnel, mire affordable drugs and health care facilities at all the existing and future new ward.level health care centers.

The need for employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for their youths was also amongst the list of concerns the people presented at the function.

The major special part of the event was the decoration of special patrons drawn from the council area.
Performed by the group's director general, Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba community leaders within the council area were decorated as special envoys and patrons of the group in Oshimili South LGA.
Two other political actors were equally decorated as special patrons.

For his special contributions to both grassroot governance and sustainable development initiatives, Pst Barr. Chuks John Obusom, executive chairman, Oshimili South LGA, was also honored and decorated as a special top notch patron of the group in Oshimili South LGA.

Otu Ihaza Ahaba Commends Firm's Quality Construction Works In Asaba

* Firm Committs To Partner, Sustain Asaba Peace & Security Initiatives.

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

The leadership of Asaba's traditional law-making assembly, Otu Ihaza Ahaba, yesterday, at one of it's committee consulltative session, commended good construction works of an indigenous firm in Asaba.

Addressing the leadership of Otu Ihaza Ahaba, Comrade Jindu Obanya, chairman, Project Monitoring Commitee, appreciated Otu Ihaza's leadership for commissioning his committee to serve Asaba development needs.

As contained in his reports presented to the assembly's leadership, Comrade Jindu Obanya, explained how his committee had in the recent past made efforts at identifying, visiting, making inquires and inspecting quality of public works implemented by contractors within Asaba.

Comrade Obanya presented before the assembly's leadership, field progress report on the quality construction works carried out by Eric-Kings Ventures, an indigenous firm, implementing public works within Asaba.

The firm does various drainage and road construction works in Asaba, Comrade Obanya mentioned.
With respect to our recent field monitoring of on-going projects in Asaba, we identified, visited and wrote to some of them on the need to inspect their projects, we were satisfied with the response we got from this firm.

We are equally satisfied with the quality of works carried out, equippments and materials used as well as the type and depth of drainage system constructed, Comrade Obanya reported.

Ogbueshi Uche Nwajie, Onoi Ahaba, Speaker. Otu Ihaza Ahaba, commended the committee members for the committment and dedication with which they embarked upon their duties.

Referring to reports on the firm's response to the committee's task, Ogbueshi Nwajei, Onoi Ahaba, thanked the company over their proactive and responsive conduct towards the committee members engagement.

Onoi Ahaba invited the firm to consider the peaceful nature of the town and seek meaningful opportunities at engaging Asaba youths and entrepreneurs while implementing their contracts as well as supporting the prevailing peaceful social climate within Asaba.

Responding on behalf of Eric-Kings Ventures, Mr Eric Nwachukwu, thanked the traditional assembly for the honor done his firm.

All contractors doing business in Asaba knows that the town is one of the best places in the state to do business and the town deserves nothing less than quality job.

Indeed, it will not be well with anybody, who after enjoying peaceful business atmosphere in Asaba,but choose to reward the town with poor construction works, Mr Eric Nwachukwu stressed.

One of our company's policy holds that we must engage and employ youths of the host community where we do business.

We are committed to do our own part in sustaining the current prevailing peace and security in Asaba, for sure, soon, we will come back to contribute towards sustaining peace & security initiatives in Asaba, Mr Nwachukwu assured the assembly's leadership.

In private media chat with our reporter, Mr Nwachukwu urged other contractors doing business within Asaba to open their doors for effective partnership with Project Monitoring Committee of Otu Ihaza Ahaba.

Our company is committed to partner with Otu Ihaza Ahaba and will actively support the peace and security agenda of the town, Mr Nwachukwu pointed out.

Sharing his closing remarks at the end of the consultative session, Ogbueshi Sunny Nwankwo, Oloto Ahaba, Deputy Speaker, Otu Ihaza Ahaba, expressed his appreciation over the successful consultative session and its attendant consequences.

The fall out of this meeting will help all us as stakeholders in the development of Asaba, begin to chat forward from now a more progressive cause that will mutually benefit all, Ogbueshi Sunny Nwankwo, said.

Otu Ihaza Ahaba Commends Firm's Quality Construction Works In Asaba

* Firm Committs To Partner, Sustain Asaba Peace & Security Initiatives.

Okonta Emeka Okelum, Asaba

The leadership of Asaba's traditional law-making assembly, Otu Ihaza Ahaba, yesterday, at one of it's committee consulltative session, commended good construction works of an indigenous firm in Asaba.

Addressing the leadership of Otu Ihaza Ahaba, Comrade Jindu Obanya, chairman, Project Monitoring Commitee, appreciated Otu Ihaza's leadership for commissioning his committee to serve Asaba development needs.

As contained in his reports presented to the assembly's leadership, Comrade Jindu Obanya, explained how his committee had in the recent past made efforts at identifying, visiting, making inquires and inspecting quality of public works implemented by contractors within Asaba.

Comrade Obanya presented before the assembly's leadership, field progress report on the quality construction works carried out by Eric-Kings Ventures, an indigenous firm, implementing public works within Asaba.

The firm does various drainage and road construction works in Asaba, Comrade Obanya mentioned.
With respect to our recent field monitoring of on-going projects in Asaba, we identified, visited and wrote to some of them on the need to inspect their projects, we were satisfied with the response we got from this firm.

We are equally satisfied with the quality of works carried out, equippments and materials used as well as the type and depth of drainage system constructed, Comrade Obanya reported.

Ogbueshi Uche Nwajie, Onoi Ahaba, Speaker. Otu Ihaza Ahaba, commended the committee members for the committment and dedication with which they embarked upon their duties.

Referring to reports on the firm's response to the committee's task, Ogbueshi Nwajei, Onoi Ahaba, thanked the company over their proactive and responsive conduct towards the committee members engagement.

Onoi Ahaba invited the firm to consider the peaceful nature of the town and seek meaningful opportunities at engaging Asaba youths and entrepreneurs while implementing their contracts as well as supporting the prevailing peaceful social climate within Asaba.

Responding on behalf of Eric-Kings Ventures, Mr Eric Nwachukwu, thanked the traditional assembly for the honor done his firm.

All contractors doing business in Asaba knows that the town is one of the best places in the state to do business and the town deserves nothing less than quality job.

Indeed, it will not be well with anybody, who after enjoying peaceful business atmosphere in Asaba,but choose to reward the town with poor construction works, Mr Eric Nwachukwu stressed.

One of our company's policy holds that we must engage and employ youths of the host community where we do business.

We are committed to do our own part in sustaining the current prevailing peace and security in Asaba, for sure, soon, we will come back to contribute towards sustaining peace & security initiatives in Asaba, Mr Nwachukwu assured the assembly's leadership.

In private media chat with our reporter, Mr Nwachukwu urged other contractors doing business within Asaba to open their doors for effective partnership with Project Monitoring Committee of Otu Ihaza Ahaba.

Our company is committed to partner with Otu Ihaza Ahaba and will actively support the peace and security agenda of the town, Mr Nwachukwu pointed out.

Sharing his closing remarks at the end of the consultative session, Ogbueshi Sunny Nwankwo, Oloto Ahaba, Deputy Speaker, Otu Ihaza Ahaba, expressed his appreciation over the successful consultative session and its attendant consequences.

The fall out of this meeting will help all us as stakeholders in the development of Asaba, begin to chat forward from now a more progressive cause that will mutually benefit all, Ogbueshi Sunny Nwankwo, said.

COMPARING THE HOLOCAUST IN GERMANY, GENOCIDE IN RWANDA AND THE ASABA MASSACRE OF 7TH OCTOBER 1967!

AN ATTEMPT TO WIPE OUT A DEFENCELESS COMMUNITY BY SHOW OF MILITARY MIGHT??

Patrick Chiwete

A Wikipedia definition of this very horrible word called Holocaust is; “…the systematic, bureaucratic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million Jews by the Nazi regime and it’s collaborators”…which tentatively led to the 2nd World War with the eventual formation of the United nation!

Thus, nations came together or became united across the globe in order to prevent the nonoccurrence of such evil deeds! Nevertheless, the same “United nations” went to deep slumber as millions of Tutsi, (a particular tribe in East Africa) were slaughtered in what was generally described as the Rwanda Genocide; “the intentional action to destroy a people (usually defined as an ethnic, national, racial or religious group) in whole or part”... as historically documented.

Now the massacre of defenseless civilians comprising youths of ages between 12-18years, in Asaba, on 7th October 1967, has remained undocumented, nay conveniently forgotten in our history as a nation.

 It was a day indigenes of Asaba were called out to celebrate “ONE NIGERIA” during the Nigeria/Biafra war, but it turned out to be a dance of death!

In retrospect, it could be an attempt to completely wipe out the entire Asaba community based on the extent and manner of the wanton destruction as embarked upon by the marauding Nigeria Soldiers.

An extract from the Wikipedia account of the pogrom summarizes it thus; “Leaders summoned the townspeople to assemble on the morning of October 7, hoping to end the violence through a show of support for "One Nigeria." Hundreds of men, women, and children, many wearing the ceremonial akwa ocha (white) attire paraded along the main street, singing, dancing, and chanting "One Nigeria."

At a junction, men and teenage boys were separated from women and young children, and gathered in an open square at Ogbe-Osowa village. Federal troops revealed machine guns, and orders were given by Maj. Ibrahim Taiwo to open fire.

It is estimated that more than 700 men and boys were killed, some as young as 12 years old, in addition to many more killed in the preceding days”. What are the spirits of the over 700 men and boys that were lynched/slaughtered saying to us today, specifically on the 7th October 2016, 49years after?

Some people in their myopic logic or wisdom have argued almost convincingly that this massacre in Asaba, about 49years ago should be forgotten, put behind us and ndi Ahaba should just move ahead! Of course, life is all about moving on and such argument will make loads of sense to persons who are not casulties of the massacre.

It will be logical to an outsider that never experienced the pains of losing a loved one in any unjustified conflict, especially where the majority of the victims were unarmed little kids.

Tell me, what about the other casualties of this massacre that grew up single parented having lost their fathers in the event of this crooked genocide thereby forcing a loving wife into the dark shadow of becoming a widow?