From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
Igbo traders in Kano State would today close their shops to business to mourn their colleague, Mr. Tochukwu Augustine Iro, who was shot and killed last week by operatives of the Special Anti- Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police in the state.
The shut down order will also serve as platform to mourn Mrs. Bridget Agahame, the female Igbo trader, who was hacked to death by extremists for alleged act of blasphemy against Islam about two months ago.
The closure of shops and the subsequent suspension of all business transactions will last for 24 hours and would affect thousands of Igbo traders and businesses in the commercial city, who have vowed to unanimously register their protest against the disturbing development.
Sources told Daily Sun that the resolution was endorsed by the 22 affiliated Igbo Trade Unions in the state, which include KEDA, Auto Parts Union, BOSDA, Iron and Steel Union, Kofar Wambai Textile Union, Kanti Kwori Traders Union among others.
Chairman of the Igbo Traders Welfare Association, Kano State, Chief Emma Amadi told Daily Sun that the unprecedented solidarity would be characterized by prayers for the deceased person, tributes and a press briefing.
‘We are not going to open our shops from 6.00am to 600 am, the following day, Don’t forget that the spate of killings of our members is rather alarming and we are not comfortable with the development.
“Not up to two months ago, they killed Mummy Bridget Agbaheme in Kofar Wambai Market. While we are still nursing that pain, crying over the loss of our dear mother,, they decided to cut short the life of another Igbo trader for no just cause.
“He was a young businessman.
The police shot him. Our members are not happy, they are very sad, but we are trying our best to cool their anger over these unjustified killings of our members,” he noted.
He added that they will press for compensation for the affected family at the right time.
“The condition of the wife of the bereaved is pathetic. His wife is a traditional housewife and with the death of her husband, both herself and his young children are now left without a caregiver in thses difficult times,’ he stated.
In spite of his pains, he acknowledged the condolence visit by a delegation of the Nigeria Police who and assured them that justice would be done in the case.
Benue Assembly crisis: My suspension illegal -Lawmaker
From Fred Itua, Abuja
A member of the Benue State House of Assembly, Kester Kyenge, has described his suspension by the All Progressives Congress (APC) controlled parliament as illegal.
The lawmaker who represents Logo State Constituency in a chat with newsmen in Abuja, said he was not given a fair hearing before the hasty decision to suspend him was reached.
The House had on July 21, 2016, suspended Kyenge for five months, over purported moves to impeach the Speaker, Terkimbi Ikyange.
His suspension has, however, been denounced by the other 14 members of the Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP) colleagues in the House.
Kyenge who is among those battling the leadership of the Assembly over car purchase scandal, said he was never invited by the House’s committee on Ethics and Privilege, as well as Judiciary to explain any misgivings harboured against him.
He explained: “Normally, what is done is that, if I have been found to have erred and the matter had been brought to the House, the matter would have been debated and thrown to the Joint Committee of Ethics and Privilege and Judiciary.
Now it is the committee that would investigate and find me culpable or otherwise. In the course of the investigation, the committee would determine if it was me who caused the uproar or members who insisted that I must speak.
Whichever way, it was premeditated and I was already convicted abinitio. It is unprecedented.
If a House Committee on Ethics throws in the report that is damning, it is usually a two weeks suspension at which point I am called to show remorse for what I have done and if I continue in the same act, then more sanctions will come. “That was not done and I was suspended. I represent a constituency. It would be preposterous to assume that for five months, from now till the end of this calendar year, Logo would not be represented, I would not be represented. I feel that the procedure was wrong and a breach of my own fundamental human rights.
The lawmaker who has vowed not to throw in the towel until the right thing is done, equally revealed that members of the Assembly were yet to be paid their salaries and other entitlements since February, 2016.
Salaries in Benue state have not been paid. People are owed six months. The governor is behind this. I am being profiled for daring to question the level of poverty and hunger in the land. I am being profiled for daring to question the maladministration of the bailout funds,” he revealed.