SUNDAY Vanguard, APRIL 27, 2014, PAGE 25
BY SIMON EBEGBULEM, BENIN CITY
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T was a bloody Sunday in a sleepy community called Azagba, in Uhumnwonde Local Government Council of Edo State, when suspected thugs stormed the community and unleashed mayhem on the people. Three people were shot dead while several others are receiving treatment in hospital. Residents have fled due to fear of fresh attack. The traditional head of the community, known as the Ohen of Azagba, Chief Nosakhare Ogieriakhi, equally fled the community for fear of being killed. When Sunday Vanguard visited the community, last week, apart from a 78year- old man, Pa Gabriel Eboigbe, who said he came from Orhiomwon to bury his son who died a month ago, no other person was seen in the community. Eboigbe lamented: “I have not eaten anything called food in the past five days because the people I am staying with fled as a result of the war in the community. I am all alone in this community. I only came visiting a month ago to bury my son and, because the people I am staying with have all fled, there is no body to give me food and the only place where I usually buy bread, the people have also fled”. Asked about what he observed on the said day of the mayhem, Eboigbe narrated: “I was sitting down here when over 100 boys with guns passed here heading to the Ohen’s palace. I learnt that it was a former community leader who brought the thugs to fight because they said he refused to give account of some money and the community said they didn’t want him to hold public office again. The man is very rich but they said he is using his money to intimidate the people and because they said he should render account he brought thugs to fight”. You could see the pains when Pa Eboigbe spoke, the old man was starving. Sunday Vanguard had to drive out to buy him bread and water in a nearby community. Sunday Vanguard learnt that trouble started when the Ohen and elders of the community requested the former leader to render account of his stewardship after spending eight years in office. The youths too were said to have been dissatisfied with his performance in office and therefore backed the elders. It was learnt that after the mayhem in the community which led to the death of two persons, the youths launched a counter attack and burnt down the residence of the former community leader. The Ohen, Ogieriakhi, who spoke to Sunday Vanguard from his hiding place, narrated the incident: “My father died Nov. 7, 2010, and I succeeded him on February 2, 2011. The former community leader, before he was removed, had spent almost nine years in office instead of four. When I came in, the community asked him to render account of his stewardship. Money came from NNPC for the payment of the pipeline they laid in our area and building of a town hall, C M Y K
Two killed, royal father escapes death... as oil money sparks trouble
•A community youth •The house razed during mayhem who lost his brother presence of his mother. They Prisons. He has been threatenabout N35million. At the end, even tried to kill me but the ing one Monday because that no town hall was built, no policemen on ground took me one was close to him, but he borehole, nothing to show in away. After the incident, I now told him to stop cheating our community as developmencalled my lawyer who wrote a the community. Monday was tal projects. Recently, he sold petition to the AIG, then the the bush inspector before the about 165 plots of land for matter was referred to the state community organ he headed about N80million but the Police Command and they are was dissolved. I quickly picked community did not see the investigating now”. my phone to call the police at money. He was asked to render Told that that the house of the Egba and they came. When they former community leader was account and, when he realised arrived, they saw the thugs, he could not render account, he burnt, the Ohen said: “I am not about 200 of them, but they started fighting the community. aware of that because I ran could not do anything. So, I About five months ago, he shot away for my life. But why I am called the Area Commander three persons and those inshocked is that the police saw who sent the policemen. At this volved were charged to court all these things and they are not point, the former community but he ran away because youths making any move to arrest the leader and the thugs started of the community were looking former community leader. He shooting. They went to Monfor him. About two of those believes he has money, so he day’s house and shot him in the arrested are still in Oko can always manipulate the •Pa Eboigbe
Woman who lives for others
BY OKOFU UBAKA OMAMULI
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an, inherently, may be selfish. Resources may be indisputably scare. Nonetheless, living for others by way of sharing what one has with the needy, morally, is the essence of how to live right. Although, I have met her on few occasion at the Living Faith Church, Koko, I really do not know much about this lady with a good heart. Yet, I may not be able to deny my knowledge of her being the TLG of Warri-North LGA and the C.E.O of Destiny Helper. Destiny Helpers couldn’t have been a limited liability company, but a company under Part C of Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA). This makes it a charitable organization with a mandate not to maximize profit but to give the needy, the aged, the neglected and the bereaved a helping hand. Evang.(Mrs) Victoria Sillo Fregene is an achiever in all ramifications. As a seasoned civil servant, and to have gotten to where she is presently, she must have paid some dues. We need not trumpet her academic achieve-
ments because her feat as an accountant par excellence speaks volumes. In her chosen discipline; Fregene had demonstrated adequate knowledge which manifested in awards. I have never seen a good example of how well to manage fame, wealth and fulfillment, and still remain humble. Mrs Fregene, by conduct, has evolved a new meaning of how not be arrogant, even where wealth and fame nudge. She carries an aural of bliss and easy, one which reminds me of the Nightingale’s easy to living. As a soldier of Christ, Evang. Fregene encourages the youths and the aged into a relationship with Christ Jesus. I am sure this is the core concern of Destiny Helpers. As a member of Destiny Helpers, one has no choice but, first to surrender all to Christ Jesus, and either continues his or her education or pick a trade. The aged are accommodated, clothed, availed periodical medical attention, and above all placed on weekly allowance. Also, they are treated to sumptuous meal every Sunday after church service. Wrappers and blouses are periodically distributed to them. In spite of her
police. Members of my community have all fled so that they won’t be killed and it is because they believe that the police cannot give us protection, but when the police show seriousness they will come out. I had to run for my dear life, it was God that saved me. Since I was installed, the former community leader has been looking down on me because he said I am a small boy; he said he can buy any body; that is why he has been oppressing us. I am appealing to our Comrade Governor Adams Oshiomhole to call for investigation into the matter and also I appeal to then Edo Commissioner of Police to provide security so that my subjects go come back to their community. I am also appealing to the Oba of Benin to intervene in this matter.” When Sunday Vanguard contacted the former community leader on telephone for his reaction, he failed to respond to the allegations. He referred us to his lawyer. However, in a petition addressed to the Edo State Police Commissioner, the former community leader accused the Ohen of the murder of two person and also called on the CP to arrest 50 boys in Azagba in connection with the murder. Edo State Police Commissioner, Foluso Adebanjo, told Sunday Vanguard that “the matter is seriously being investigated.” He added: “My men on ground tried to stop the mayhem. It was a community crisis; unfortunately, after the incident, the thugs ran into the bush. I stationed people there to hunt for them. The traditional head of the community and even the former community leader are being questioned.”
time this shall come to bear on the administration of Warri-North LGA. Certainly, Fregene, in her small way, has stepped into the shoes of Mother Theresa of blessed memory.
goodwill and kind disposition towards the needy and the aged, some persons are still critical of Fregene. I am not writing to join issues with these cynics though. Yet, I saw the obvious need to reiterate one of their arguments and its low point. They *OMAMULI lives in argued, how come all these corKoko in Warri-North, ruption, delay in payment of Delta State salary and faulty policies are eating up the soul of the WarriNorth LGA, when Fregene is there as the TLG of the council? I ask them: How come corruption, inefficiency, laughable government policies are eating up the soul of our beloved country when we have so many Godfearing people in government? The truth remains: Righteousness exults a nation and sin is a reproach. The struggle to free Warri-North, nay Nigeria from lives in ineptitude in governance and corruption must be collectively done. However, there are expectations of a God-fearing TLG, who also carries a good heart as Fregene does, and in no Mrs Fregene