Election: Aggrieved PDP members battle former youth leader

Published July 14, 2024

Election: Aggrieved PDP members battle former youth leader 

By Uche Iweka 

The Edo State Police Command, led by   Mr Johnson Babatunde Kokumo has intervened in the release of  the kidnapped parents of a former Igbanke youth leader, Mr Obi Happy, who has been on self exile  for the past eight years after series of threats on his life  by aggrieved members of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in the area.

                                        Mr Obi Happy

 It was gathered  that  Mr Obi Happy has been on exile for the past eight  years as a result of the problem he had with one of the opposition political parties in Nigeria, PDP,  during the   governorship election in the stat, held July 14, 2012. alledging that he was caught thumbprinting, carting away with ballot boxes and collecting bribe from other political parties  and so the Party members vowed to destroy him.

  It was also gathered that Mr Obi Happy had a case with PDP which was arraigned at Ewuriaria Magistrate Court, Edo State in the year, 2012, which he, Mr Obi Happy was declared winner. 

 In an interview with newsmen, the released parents revealed that their abductors told them that they should warn their son, Obi Happy not to ever return from exile where he is right now, since he has a second chance to work against their party. 

  In a town hall meeting organised on saturday,  July 14, 2024  by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to canvass for votes for the upcoming governorship election slated for  Saturday September, 21, 2024  in Edo State, which Mr Obi Happy participated through zoom and advised Edo people  to vote for Labour Party, LP, alledging that other political parties has done  nothing for Edo State and people of Igbanke in Orhionmwhon Local Government Area 5of Edo State. 

It was recalled that it was the midnight after  the town hall meeting where Mr Obi Happy advised the youths against voting for PDP and  All Progressive Party, APC, that his parents were kidnapped. 

  Our reporter  spoke to Mr Obi Happy through zoom after the release of his parents and he said ," despite what the enemies have done, I am still  telling my people of Igbanke and Edo State not to vote for PDP  and APC that has done nothing for us in their past years

 of being in office. We are going to vote and support  the Labour Party, LP, we belive that with them, our state will be a better place. The truth must stand, we will only support leaders and parties that have the interest of the people at heart", he said.

 

As at the time our reporters visited Igbanke community, we discovered that  the schools and roads  are in a very bad state and some of the residents who pleaded anonimity said the former youth leader, Mr Obi Happy is a threat to PDP  and APC due to the influence he wields over his people and that PDP for the past eight years of being in  office has done nothing for them.

Incest: Villagers at war with Samuel Godwin, his wife, Mrs Gift Godwin

November 21, 2020

 Incest: Villagers at war with Samuel Godwin, his wife, Mrs Gift Godwin 

By Uche Iweka 

A young couple, Mr and Mrs Samuel Godwin,are presently facing a serious battle in their Ohionwa Clan, in Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria. 

Some members of Ohionwa Clan who spoke in a recent interview with journalists said that Samuel Godwin and his wife, Gift Godwin are from the same family, hence, as a brother and sister they cannot marry each other.

                                     Samuel Godwin

They noted that any marriage between a brother and sister is a taboo and an abomination in their land, therefore, Samuel Godwin and Gift Godwin must face the penalty of engaging themselves in such abominable act.

 They disclosed that the penalty of marrying one's brother or sister(Incest)is death by stoning at the village public square.

According to a member of the family who refused to mention his name due to security reason, Samuel Godwin was seriously warned not to marry Gift since they are from the same family in Orhionwa Clan but, he refused and went ahead with the marriage. He was aware of the penalty of committing incest, unfortunately, he damned the consequence by going ahead with the marriage.

                                    Gift Godwin

He added, "Incest is evil and an abomination in our land. Anyone who commits it offends the gods of our land and such person whether male or female will be stoned to death at the village public square."

On the question if the law of the land on  incest will be reviewed, the family member said that it will not be reviewed. However, he advised his brother, Samuel Godwin who he said has been missing with his new wife since they got married in 2020, not to return to the village or if possible leave Nigeria as they are not going to be  spared by their people.

One of the leaders of Orhionwa Clan, Pa Johnson Imasua, in an interview with journalists on the issue, declared that his people will continue to uphold the laws of the land and their rich cultural heritage. He asserted that Samuel Godwin was  notified severally on the native law against incest, yet, he paid a deaf ear to it. He told journalists that Samuel Godwin and his wife, Gift  Godwin must face the penalty so as to serve as an example to other people in Orhionwa Clan who have such intention. We have set a up committee of able bodied young men with the mandate to fish out Samuel Godwin and his wife, Mrs Gift Godwin anywhere they are found in Nigeria.

However, our reporters made several efforts to reach Samuel Godwin or his wife, Gift Godwin for their comments, unfortunately, their phone numbers were switched off and their whereabouts was still unknown as at the time of filling this report.