Ohaneze Ndigbo and the Muslims
In a show of peace, support and unity, the apex Igbo-socio cultural organization, have paid a visit to their Northern counterparts residing in Enugu community after their Mosque was engulfed by fire.
The Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by the Enugu branch President, Chief Alex Ogbonna, on Wednesday, visited the Muslim Community in Igbo-Eze North Local Government Area of Enugu State to commiserate with them over the fire incident which engulfed a mosque in the area.
It was reported that a mosque located at Ogrute, the council headquartres was early morning of Saturday last week engulfed by a mysterious fire, which razed the entire roof down.
Chief Alex who led other members of his exco to the mosque, said he was in the area to re-echo the existing peace and bond existing among all the residents of the State irrespective of their religious and ethnic differences.
He expressed sadness over the inferno, and urged the Muslim faithful to accept the development as an act of God which should not be allowed to affect the existing cordial relationship existing between Christians and Muslims in the State.
“We are here to sympathize with you and to tell you that whatever may be the case, we shall continue to be one. You have been here for several years and there has never been any incident of whatever form. So, our appeal is that you all should continue to live in peace.
“So, the essence of our coming here today is to show solidarity with the Imam and thee Muslim community in this area. We have Christians, traditionalists and Muslims in this State and all of them practice their religion unhindered.
“There is absolute freedom of worship in Enugu State and as such everybody is free to pursue their religion. That’s why we felt touched that this happened to a house of God”, he said.
Ogbonna further stated that “we felt that what happened is quite unusual because this is the most peaceful State. The Governor is a peaceful man and that is why in Enugu, everybody sleeps with two eyes closed.
“Also, from what we have noticed today, almost all the Muslim faithful here, including the Imam are Igbos. So, this is internal; this has nothing to do with ethnic group or religion. Our people should not be afraid at all.
“However, we are sure that God will find a way in distant time to see to the erection of a better mosque here.”
In a remark, the Chief Imam of Enugu-Ezike, Alhaji Ali Osai expressed happiness with the Ohanaeze leadership over the visit, and stressed that they had lived in absolute peace with adherents of other religions, stressing that “the peace will be sustained.”
hairman of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Ambassador Shettima Yarima, has said the quit notice given to Igbo in the northern states stands, pending the outcome of their current consultations across board.
• ‘You can’t live with us and talk Biafra’
• ‘We won’t use force’
The Chairman of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), Ambassador Shettima Yarima, has said the quit notice given to Igbo in the northern states stands, pending the outcome of their current consultations across board.
“Our stand on Biafra still stands. But when the period expires, we are not going to expel them by force. We don’t have the constitutional power to do that. So whoever does not believe in Nigeria can leave at his will peacefully. We are not using any force to eject them from the North,” he said.
Yarima spoke at a town hall meeting organised by a coalition of northern youths at Ni’imah Guest Palace Hotel, Kano under the leadership of Nastura Ashir Sharif.
In his keynote address, Sharif said that apart from the quit notice, they had also written to the United Nations on the violent activities of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, urging them to declare him a terrorist and his agitation illegal.
According to him, the Arewa youths are still expecting a response from the UN which would guide their next move. “That is why we say our quit notice still stands and our resolve that anybody who doesn’t want to stay in Nigeria should vacate our region still stands, but we are not going to use force to actualize that. We will do it through peaceful means, this is because of the fact that one cannot be living with us and talking Biafra,” Sharif stated.
He said it was sad that people focused more on the quit notice issued by the northern youths rather than on a “presented recorded video evidence where Nnamdi Kanu called for genocide like what happened in Rwanda.”
Sharif revealed that “After our Kaduna Declaration, when we issued a quit notice to all Igbo residing in the North to leave the region on or before 1st October, 2017, we received various calls from people both within and outside the country telling us to review our stand and come up with other demands or issues affecting the North.”
He said they were advised to go beyond Biafra issue and come up with strategies to tackle issues bothering on economy, unemployment, security, Almajiri and drug abuse as they affect the North.
“We are indeed heeding the calls, that is why we are here in Kano holding a Town Hall meeting in line with the advice. We would organise similar meetings in North East and North Central after which we will come up with our final stand regarding this issue,” he said.
Prof. Aliyu Jibia, who is the chairman of the Arewa Summit Development Initiative, in his submission, lamented the issue of Almajiri, urging the people to rise against the menace by proffering lasting solution to it.
He revealed that on the 1st of October, the group would hold a one- million-man march to sensitize the people on the menace of Almajiri that has been affecting the region for many years.
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, on Wednesday knocked the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, for allegedly equating the IPOB group with the “faceless and uninformed” northern youths coalition, which issued a quit notice to the Igbo living in the North.
Kanu, who spoke in Abuja through his team of defence counsel led by Ifeanyi Ejiofor at a briefing, also accused the Federal Government of disrespecting court orders.
Kanu demanded that other detained IPOB leaders — Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu, David Nwawuisi and Bright Chimezie, be freed immediately.
He said, “With due reverence to the Acting President, and his rank as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, we deem it obligatory to state the correct position of the law as it relates to his faulty position.
“We observed most respectfully that the learned silk made this remark in direct response to the quit notice threats and ultimatum handed down to Igbo living in the northern part of the country, by a faceless and uninformed northern group.
“But it must be noted that it is a mistake to equate the lawful and legitimate aspirations and agitations for Biafra with the unlawful, illegal and illegitimate quit notice, and threat given to the Igbo people to leave the North by this group.
“We submit that the right to self-determination, recognisable under various instruments which Nigeria is a signatory to is clearly provided for under Article 20(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) ( Act Cap 10) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990.”
The lead counsel said the five counts preferred against the IPOB leaders must also be “immediately withdrawn.”
“Section 35(1)(4) (a)(b) of the 1999 Constitution is explicit on the maximum length of time that a citizen can be detained in custody either with order of court or without trial. This period is two months and Bright Chimezie has spent well over nine months in detention of the state without trial, more so when a court of competent jurisdiction has ordered the Department of State Services to release Chimezie.
“On the strength of the foregoing, we demand that the five counts preferred against our clients — Kanu, Onwudiwe, Madubugwu. Nwawuisi and Chimezie — be immediately withdrawn and the defendants freed without further ado.
“We demand that Chimezie, who was ordered to be released by the order made on May 24 by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu, be released immediately without further ado and in compliance with the positive orders of court.”
Over the ultimatum give to the Igbos to quit the North, the former Abia State governor, has just received the leaders of the Coalition of Arewa Youths in his office in Abuja.
Former Abia State Governor, Dr. Orji Kalu, on Tuesday afternoon, received the leaders of the Coalition of Arewa Youths led by its chairman, Alhaji Shettima Yerima in his office in Abuja.
Here's what he posted on his Facebook page over the meeting on the Northern group;
"This afternoon, I received the leaders of the Coalition of Arewa Youths led by its Chairman, Alhaji Shettima Yerima . It is the same group that made the Kaduna declaration in which three months quit notice was given to the Igbo people living in the North. The quit notice have actually been a source of worry to me because I knew the commitments of our people around the world not to talk more of being economic migrants in nature.
"The unnecessary uprising caused by the quit notice inundated me to call them to order as nothing is too much to be sacrificed for peace. I believe the actions of these youth were borne out of frustration and I am happy that they have promised me today that they will further consult to sheath their swords and denounce their declaration.
"Today, they have given me their word of embracing peace and maintaining that no harm shall befall any of our people in the North. I believe in a united Nigeria where fairness, equity and justice are instituted. I also believe that our lives are sacrosanct and no Igbo blood should be spilled at any slightest provocation again."
Before the visitors left, they had group photographs with their host as proof of their commitment to the promise and rethink.
The leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu, on Monday, said Igbo must not vacate the North, or any other part of the country, as a condition for the actualization of the agitation for Biafra.
The IPOB leader spoke in an interview with some journalists in Enugu, where he received awards from a number of pan-Igbo groups, including the Igbo Women Assembly, the Eastern Consultative Assembly and the Igbo Students Union.
Reacting to the ‘quit notice’ issued to Igbo in the North by a coalition of Arewa youths, Kanu noted that secession from Nigeria did not imply that Igbo must leave the North, or other part of the country as suggested by the ultimatum issued by the northern youths.
He said, “You are aware that Scotland is seeking to leave the United Kingdom? Are you remotely implying that every person from Scotland, who lives in England, should now return to Scotland?
“Britain just left the EU. Are you now implying that every British citizen in the EU should come back to Britain in order to finalize that process of extraction of Britain from the EU?”
Kanu noted that what he described as “poor education” was responsible for the impression that Igbo must leave other parts of Nigeria in the event of the actualization of Biafra.
The Biafran agitator added that he would not take issue with the Arewa youths, who he described as “inconsequential.”
Kanu, nonetheless, warned that Igbo, who resided in the North, were doing so at their own peril.
According to him, Igbo resident in the North are “sacrificial lambs” who could be killed at any moment.
Asked if Igbo in the North should ignore the notice to quit, the IPOB leader stated, “It is up to them. They have been in the North, and they (northerners) have been killing us (Igbo) since 1945.
“If you choose to live in the North, you choose to be a sacrificial lamb because one day, they will kill you. It is a choice they have made and they will have to live with it.”
Kanu insisted that the governorship poll in Anambra State, scheduled to hold on November 18, 2017, would not hold unless the Federal Government acceded to pro-Biafran agitators’ demand for a referendum.
Asked if he was not bothered that Ohanaeze Ndigbo had overruled his call for the boycott of the poll, Kanu said he was in charge of the people “100 per cent.”
He added, “No, I’m not (bothered) because the people are with us. We control the people 100 per cent and come Anambra, on the 18th of November, 2017, the whole world will be amazed.”
Although he said he was certain that the people of Anambra would boycott the election, Kanu said IPOB did not intend to stop anybody who decided to vote.
“We are entirely peaceful. We are not stopping anyone from voting. If you want to vote, you can go and vote. We are democrats,” he said.
Kanu added that the planned referendum would, once and for all, settle the debate between Biafra and restructuring.
The IPOB leader said, “We are calling for a referendum so that the people can actually decide, once and for all, what they want, for themselves; not anybody deciding for them.
“I have not argued Biafra from the standpoint of absolutism. I am not saying you must vote for Biafra. I am asking the powers that be in Nigeria to allow the people to determine for themselves.”
Reacting to his bail conditions, the IPOB leader said the court, which barred him from granting interviews, could not stop him from speaking.
He said, “I am not giving an interview, I am responding to the question you asked me. The judge is a very learned fellow. She cannot stop me from speaking.”
Earlier, Kanu had assured a delegation of the Igbo Women Assembly, led by Mrs. Maria Okwor, that the menace posed by Fulani herdsmen in parts of the South-East “would come to an end before the end of the year.”
He equally told members of the Igbo Students Union, who honoured him with the title of ‘Light of the People’, to join IPOB and propagate the struggle for Biafra on the social media.
Meanwhile, IPOB, on Monday, alleged that some top politicians were plotting to kill Kanu, its leader, and other principal officers of the group.
It said huge amount of money and political patronages had been offered to certain people to execute the plot.
In a statement by the group’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB said any attack on Kanu would radicalize the Biafra struggle in a manner nobody could stop.
The group named certain governors, an elder statesman, a socio-cultural organisation, a security chief and a religious head as some of those masterminding the plot.
The statement added, “But we promise them that any attack on Nnamdi Kanu or assassination attempt will radicalize the struggle for Biafran independence to the point which no one can contain.
“We are reminding those evil plotters that if anything happens to our leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who has been using non-violent methods for Biafran liberation since the inception of IPOB, that they will experience what they have not seen before since the creation of the contraption called Nigeria by the British.”
In the course of achieving the Great Igbo Nation, the strategy below has been tested and trusted via the #ObianoEffect in Anambra State.
1. Provide adequate Security like in Anambra that's now the Safest State in Nigeria;
2. Commission Committees and Policies to aid investment like the Anambra Land Acquisition Committee & C of O Promo, etc;
3. Set up a one stop shop for Investment like the ANSIPPA in Anambra State;
4. Establish an agency to provide loans to micro, small and medium scale enterprises just like the ASBA in Anambra;
5. Commence rapid development of every community and the capital cities like the Anambra Community Infrastructure program and ACTDA initiative;
6. Start a massive "Aku Lue Uno" Campaign to urge ndi Igbo world over to bring their investments home.
ANAMBRA, nay Igbos, are still part and parcel of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Yes, we are not happy with our treatment in Nigeria. Yes, some of us want Biafra.
Yes some of us prefer a restructured Federal Republic of Nigeria. But the fact remains that we are still part and parcel of the present federal Republic of Nigeria, bound by its laws, no matter how repressive or injust. Our approach to reforms of our laws even if it leads to self-determination or restructuring must be lawful.
The above statement was made by the President of the igbo socio-cultural group, Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia John Nwodo, during a session with the Anambra State House of Assembly, to clear the air regarding the Anambra November 18th Guber Election that Nnamdi kanu has called his IPOB followers to boycott.
Chief Nwodo argued that Anambra people should not by any means be be denied the opportunity to choose their own leader. And speaking about Nnamdi temerity, questioned why he should descend to the arena, when he is not even from Anambra and dictate for Anambra People when to vote, whether to vote or who to vote for.
Chief Nwodo who was veracious in his vituperation Nnamdi Kanu's approach, stated, "Our approach to reforms of our laws even if it leads to self-determination or restructuring must be lawful. We must convine other Nigerians of our points of views, we must strive to make others share our concoctions. Our language must be civil, respectful and leads to consensus building. We must resist any attempt to turn division amongst us, as to which way we must go, becoming a source of altercafion between us".
Ohaneze Ndigbo also bemoans the inability of the Inspector General police to arrest the Arewa Youth group that issued the quit notice, stating that ndigbo living in northern Nigeria are in complete awe and consternation regarding how safe they will be after October 1st.
Notable stakeholders present at the meeting where, Chief Damian Okeke Ogene (Ohaneze Ndigbo, Anambra State Chairman); Hon. Bar. Rita Mmaduagwu(Speaker, Anambra State House of Assembly); Chief Sir Victor Umeh(Fmr. Apga National Chairman); and members, Anambra State Assembly.
Chief Sir. Victor Umeh while speaking, reiterated that the glamour for war is not the right way to go. He called on various agitators to follow the proper legal process as means of actualizing their project.
Chief Nna Nwodo assures that the session with Anambra State House of Asssembly is the first of its kind and will be replicated across other South Eastern States.
Col. Joe Achuzia (rtd), a Biafra War veteran, has described the eviction notice issued to the Igbo by the Coalition of Arewa Youths as real, saying that the targets are not only Igbo but every other ethnic nationality except the Fulani.
According to The Sun News, while so many have elected to take the ultimatum for granted, Achuzia cautioned against it on the ground that the youths meant business as the ultimatum is the first step in trying to execute a resolution reached in 1989.
Achuzia said there was an Islam in Africa conference held in London precisely November 28, 1989 when it was agreed to Islamise the African continent with Nigeria as the hub.
To achieve this agenda which has a time frame, Achuzia said the then Head of State, Ibrahim Babangida committed $21b of the nation’s resources into the project.
He told Daily Sun in an exclusive interview in Asaba that the Fulani Muslims in Nigeria are now running out of time, hence, the youths backed by their elders have initiated the process of the Islamic agenda, starting with the Igbo who they consider as serious threats.
“It is now clear why the Igbo are targeted because they are primarily pan-Africans. They wanted an Africa that exposes the concept of democracy and leadership within the African continent.
“The Fulani being sojourners from across the Golan Heights into Africa through Egypt to Libya, Tunisia, Morocco and all the way to the various countries in West Africa had been on a non-stop Jihad.
“The idea is to colonize Africa and make it an Islamic continent, not nation, with Nigeria the largest country in size and population to lead the crusade of turning Africa into an Islamic continent.
“To do this, there was a meeting held on November 28, 1989 in London setting up an Islamic council to Islamic organisation to make Nigeria a hub of Islamisation in Africa and they were given a time frame.
“The time now is up, according to what I can read, the youths are playing their roles which is giving notice to the only group they thought is responsible for making it difficult for them to Islamise Africa.
“After all, the Igbo want Africa as a democracy whereby we can live and let’s live but Islam wants to eliminate Christianity, Amadiya and so on,” Achuzia stated.
He warned that if the threat by Arewa youths is treated with kid gloves, no region, not even the Middle Belt and Amadiya Islam of South-West region would survive the consequence, adding that the only way out is to restructure the country.
“The only way to douse the fire is to reconstruct Nigeria. If you don’t restructure, the country will either go up in smoke or even if it goes up in smoke, there will be nothing left for Islam, and nothing left for Christianity and other religions.
“If Fulani Islam cannot accept Amadiya as part of the Islamic organisation, how do you expect them to accept Christianity? But restructuring will bring about live and let’s live.
“Maybe gradually as time goes on we will learn to love one another but for now, that conference they held in London in 1989 is what is creating the problem that we face now. The ultimatum has been given as a means of calling the Igbo to get out before we force you, this we will not accept,” he insisted.
He opined that there is a demarcation line separating “the Fulani from Hausa of the middle belt; demarcating them from the Maiduguri people who are Kanuri; separating them from the Yoruba who adopted Islam but called it the Amadiya Islam which the Fulani refused that as far as they are concerned they don’t call it Islam.
The coalition of Northern youth groups who had earlier in the month called for Igbos to vacate the region on or before the 1st of October have written to the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo to allow the Igbos “actualize their dream” of the sovereign nation of Biafra.
The letter has stated that the coalition feels “it is risky” for the North to go on “pretending like it is safe” to cohabitate with the Igbos in Nigeria.
According to Vanguard, the letter was signed by Shettima Yerima, Joshua Viashman, Aminu Adam, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, and Nastura Ashir Sharif.
Read the letter below:
Though we do not doubt Your Excellency’s bona fide concerns for the peaceful resolution of the crises, we nevertheless have reservations as to the efficacy of this approach in ensuring lasting solutions.
Our doubts are informed by the following historical antecedents that have characterized the behavior and conduct of the Igbo in Nigeria and previous efforts at containing them.
The Igbo of Eastern Nigeria manifested their hatred for Nigeria’s unity barely five years after we gained our independence from the British when on January 15, 1966, their army officers carried out the first-ever mutiny that marked the beginning of a series of crisis which has profoundly altered the course of Nigeria’s history.
By that ill motivated cowardly and deliberate action, the Igbo killed many northern officers from the rank of lieutenant colonel upwards and also decapitated the Prime Minister and the political leadership of the Northern and Western regions but left the zenith of Igbo leadership at the Federal level and the Eastern region intact. “In line with the Igbo plan, General Aguiyi-Ironsi took advantage of the vacuum and, instead of returning power to the remnants of the First Republic government, he appropriated the coup and attempted to consolidate it for his people.
Army officers of the Northern Region were eventually compelled to execute a counter coup on July 29, 1966 following a coordinated series of brazen provocations from the Igbo who taunting northerners on northern streets by mocking the way leaders of the region were slain by the Igbo. This unfortunately resulted in mob action which resulted in the death of many Igbos.
And when Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon, from the North took over as Head of State following the counter coup, the Igbo through Lt. Col. Ojukwu, characteristically refused to recognize Gowon.
Ojukwu declared the secession of the Igbo people from Nigeria and the formation of the republic of Biafra on May 30, 1967 resulting in a civil war that led to the tragic deaths of more than 2 million Nigerians.
Concerned by the fact that the Biafrans have confessed to arming themselves for a violent breakup, we feel that it is risky for the rest of the country particularly the North to go on pretending that it is safe for us to co habitate with the Igbos given how deeply they are entrenched in our societies .
And since evidently the Igbo have not been sufficiently humbled by their self imposed bloody civil violence of 1966, we are strongly concerned that nothing short of granting their Biafran dream will suffice.
And since the Igbo have virtually infiltrated every nook and cranny of Northern Nigeria where they have been received with open arms as fellow compatriots, we strongly believe that the region is no longer safe and secure in the light of the unfolding threats and the fact that for a long time, the Igbo have gone to extra ordinary lengths to ensure that in their domain in the South East, Northerners and Westerners are as much as possible disenfranchised from owning any businesses whereas in Kano alone, they own not less than 100, 000 shops across all the business districts.
That since the younger generation of Nigerians makes up for more than 60 per cent of the nation’s population, it is our hope that they inherit this country in better shape so that they can build a much better future for themselves and their offsprings in an atmosphere that is devoid of anarchy, hate, suspicion and negativity that characterize the polarized, and clearly irreconcilable differences forced on us by the Biafran Igbos.
As the Igbo agitations persist and assume threatening dimensions, we submit that there is need to ensure that they are given the opportunity to exercise the right to self-determination as entrenched under the aforementioned international statutes to which Nigeria is a signatory.
Aware that the right of self-determination in international law is the legal right for a “people” that allows them to attain a certain degree of autonomy from a sovereign state through a legitimate political process, we strongly demand for a referendum to take place in a politically sane atmosphere where all parties will have a democratic voice over their future and the future of the nation.
The Igbo from all over the country and in the Diaspora should be advised to converge in their region in the South-East for a plesbisite to be organized and conducted by the United Nations and other regional bodies for them to categorically to decide between remaining part of Nigeria or having their separate country.
That government should at the end of the plesbite implement whatever is agreed and resolved in order to finally put this matter to rest.
Lastly, we pray His Excellency to study the references forwarded with this letter dispassionately and decide who is more in the wrong between those who openly pledge allegiance to a country other than Nigeria backing it up with persistent threats of war and those of us whose allegiance remains with the Nigerian state but simply urge that the secessionists be allowed to actualize their dream peacefully throw universally entrenched democratic options.
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday met with South East Governors and other leaders of thought from the region and urged them not to be tempted into a tit-for-tat scenario amid hate speeches across the country.
At the meeting which held at the old Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Osinbajo urged the leaders to always speak out against hate speeches and comments capable of polarizing the country along ethnic, sectional and religious lines.
He stated that the meeting was “very urgent and crucial’’ because of the current loud voices of hate speeches and divisive comments resonating across the country, stressing that the situation required urgent attention from all concerned.
According to him, this is not the time to hide under any ethnic or religious platform to support comments that divide rather than unite us as a nation.
“Violence and war are not going to do anyone any good. Wars today hardly ends. No one who has seen the face of wars even on Television who wish it for anyone.
“We should not tolerate hate speeches or divisive comments.’’
The acting president reiterated the Federal Government’s resolve to deal with any troublemaker who threatens the peaceful coexistence of Nigeria.
He said:
“There is no doubt on the resolve of the government to allow anyone get away with hate speeches and divisive words.
“Our emotion should not be allowed to run wide so as to threaten the existence of anyone anywhere in Nigeria.
“We will do everything within our power to protect the lives of every citizen anywhere and in any part of the country.’’
He thanked the leaders for their prompt response to the consultative meeting.
Those who attended the meeting included the Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, Governor of Enugu State Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governor of Ebonyi State David Umahi, Governor of Abia State Okezie Ikpeazu, Governor of Anambra State Willy Obiano and Governor of Imo State Rochas Okorocha.
The Acting President on Tuesday began consultations with leaders of thought from the North and warned that the government would deal decisively with persons who make hate speeches or attempt to disrupt the peace of the country.
The meeting was a sequel to the calls for secession by youth from different ethnic groups in the country resulting in some asking others to vacate their enclave before Oct. 1.
The Acting President noted that that was not what the country desired at this time and urged those involved to desist or face the full weight of law.
Photo Credit:
The President General of apex Igbo social-cultural group, the Ohaneze Ndigbo, John Nwodo, has given reasons the threat by Northern Youths Coalition to force Igbo out of the North should not be swept under the carpet by Ndigbo, citing the different killings that have taken place in the past.
Nwodo, Going back memory lane, cited several of such incidents since 2015, saying the Federal, States or security agents did nothing to arrest or prosecute their killers.
Nwodo, speaking on Channels Television Sunrise Daily, insisted that Igbo people living in the north are in danger following the recent threat.
He said even the Northern Governor and other prominent individuals who have spoken contrary to the youths’ threats, will not be able to stop them when they strike.
According to him, “We have several reasons to bother about the speech by Northern youths because these are discordant voices. You did not mentioned that Ango Abdullahi speaking on behalf of the Northern Elders Forum, NEF, it does appear, that even if he doesn’t have the mandate to speak for the elders, incidents that have happened prior to the outburst of the Northern youths indicate that the governors and those who have spoken to the contrary may not have the capacity to stop the building hate that may precipitate insecurity to lives of non Northerners.
“What do I mean by this, since 2015, five Igbo people have been lynched in Abuja. On the 23rd of September 2015, Arinze Chikwelu, from Enugu State, on an errand to buy rechargeable lantern, and on demand for change, was accused to be a thief and was stabbed 47 times and the police has been unable to do anything about this.
“Another was Maduabuchi Ezenwa from Imo State who was lynched following altercation with Hausa trader. Also Ikechukwu Ugwu from Enugu State, after barbing, entered a “Keke,” paid money and asked for change, change was refused, and instead he was accused of being “barawo” and was lynched to death.
“Ndubuisi Obika from Abia state was beheaded in his farm in Abuja and his head was not found until two weeks later.
“Now in May this year, a young man, pressed to urinate, urinated in a gutter closed to a Mosque in an area in Abuja called Gwagwa, he was lynched to death, nobody has been arrested and prosecuted. In October 2016, Sylvester Oziria from Anambra state was killed in Palado, Dutse Local Government Area of Jigawa state.
“In Niger State, Emmanuel Chukwumaije from Enugu state was killed in Pandigori in Rafy Local Government Area after being accused of blasphemy, properties, shops and churches belonging to Igbo were burnt. Even when the local government Chairman said the young man was innocent, no compensation has been paid.
“And just last Thursday, a young man called Ikenna Nwabueze, while all this is going on, was killed in Kano, and police has not arrested any suspect. Of course you know about the case of Bridget in Kano in June of last year.
“I see the recent threat by the Northern youths as a quintessence of a building hate, a building despise for Ndigbo and a seeming acquiesce by the federal government to enact a nation in which some are like the animal farm. Some animals are more equal than others.
“The young men in the north see the country as an empire and see any agitation from any part of the country that they are not fairly treated as threat to deny them of their power. There is a building crescendo all over the country of a disposition that is antithesis to national unity and a domicility of government and law-enforcement agents.
“Even the northern youths have been quoted as saying ‘We dare the police to arrest us.’ What does this mean? It is anarchy. They dare the police to arrest them. The northern youths have declared a new state that excludes the South-east of Nigeria.
“They have described measures to actualize this. Everything in their speech showed a concluded crime. You have declared an intention and have consummated it. They have declared to take inventory of property belonging to Ndigbo.”
The Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir, has said that Nigeria will continue to remain one in spite of its multi-ethnic diversity. He made the assertion yesterday at his palace in Katsina when he addressed leaders of the Igbo community and other Nigerians residing in Katsina State.
“I am responding to the quit notice given to some Nigerians residing in the North by some group of people who are enemies of peace. Here in Katsina, I am ready to sacrifice my last drop of blood to ensure peace and protect all Nigerians residing in the state,” he said.
The Emir urged the different communities residing in the state not to panic as the Emirate Council and state government would take all necessary measures to ensure peaceful coexistence.
“You are Nigerians, because some of you were born here and you don’t have a better place than Katsina. So, continue to conduct your lawful business activities, we are behind you. You are my sons and daughters like any other person, Katsina is your home, so feel free to go anywhere,”
the Emir said, as he urged them to continue to pray for peace and unity in the
country, to ensure sustainable development.
Source
NAN
The president of Ohaneze ndi Igbo, Dr Nnia Nwodo has expressed optimism that the people of South East Nigeria can stand strongly together urging the leaders to expedite action on the socioeconomic development of the region.
Nwodo stated this at the funeral service in honour of Late Professor Benedict Ebele Obumselu held earlier today at St. Peters Anglican Parish, Oba, Anambra State.
Citing the laudable achievements of Gov Willie Obiano of Anambra State in a very short time, Nwodo explained that "If our governors achieved as much as Obiano has done within 4 years, our place would have been different".
Nwodo went further to commend Gov Obiano noting that "he has done well" and emphasised on the urgent need for rapid development of South East region which the present governors must focus on achieving in the shorted possible time.
In same vain, Nwodo disclosed that Ohanaeze encourages the use of Igbo language in all gatherings of ndi Igbo and charged every Onye Igbo to learn the habit of doing so "anytime, anywhere."
Paying tribute to the late sage, Nwodo described Prof Obumselu as "an exceptional scholar whose innovations have proffered lasting solutions."
Present at the funeral service were Anambra State Governor and the members of the State Executive Council; former governors of the State; former Secretary to the State Government; former National Chairman of APGA, Chief Sir Victor Umeh; representatives of various Igbo groups; captains of industries and well wishers.
The remains of Prof Obumselu was later interred at his country home in Oba.
The Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra ( MASSOB) on Wednesday gave full support to the order issued by some Northern Youth groups mandating Igbo people residing in the Northern States of the country to vacate on or before October 1, 2017.
The Youths equally instructed Northern people doing businesses in the South-East States to be prepared to return home.
A coalition of Northern groups, including the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum had on Tuesday in Kaduna ordered All Igbo in the North to leave the region on or before October 1st.
The Order was sequel to the success of the “sit-at-home” order observed in the South-East States in Commemoration of Biafra 50 years anniversary on May 30.
Reacting to the threat, MASSOB leader, Uchenna Madu said that the pro-Biafra agitators he leads were giving 100 percent support to the order.
Madu, who said that MASSOB was aware that the quit notice would come, alleged that Northern leaders sponsored their youths to threaten Igbo having seen that Biafra is a reality.
The statement read
“The latest quit notice order by the Coalition of Northern youths under the umbrella of Arewa youths is not a surprise gift to Biafrans residing in Arewa land. MASSOB is aware that such rascality will happen.
“As a matter of facts, this is the only rascality exhibited by sponsored Arewa youths to forcefully exit the people of Biafra residing in Arewa land that MASSOB will hundred percent support. Their Boko Haram tactics didn’t work as planned. MASSOB gladly received the good news of quit notice order to the people of Biafra living in Arewa land. We pledge our total support towards this divinely approved quit notice.
“MASSOB congratulates the Arewa political, religious, traditional and opinion leaders who sponsored their youths wing by using Arewa House in Kaduna for this greatest meeting of a coalition of Islamic fundamentalist. MASSOB is hereby advising the people of Biafra mostly the Igbo living in Northern Nigeria (Arewa land) to take this quit notice serious as the plan to violently kill your children, wives and demolish your investments are already perfected”.
According to Madu, MASSOB would not defend Igbo people living in the North should the Northern youths attack them for failing to obey the order.
“MASSOB will never fight or defend your lives and properties in Hausa-Fulani land. The consciousness and realities of Biafra is highly overwhelming now. The northern leaders are no longer comfortable in facing the Biafran reality, their president (Muhammad Buhari) they so much hoped to use as an obstacle to Biafra emancipation is struggling to breathe.
“As there is no other alternative to stopping Biafra freedom, the northern leaders have resorted in using their youths wing to start terrorising the people of Biafra living in the northern region. What they saw on the sit at home exercise of marking 50 years anniversary celebration of Biafra declaration by General Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu marvelled them irrespective of the promises made to them by their stooges in Biafra land.
“MASSOB urge our people to start returning home now. Don’t wait till the three months of quit notice to expire. MASSOB is begging our people to re-invest their investments back to Biafra land”.
A coalition of the Niger Delta militants held a meeting in Port Harcourt on Friday and have called on the Federal Government to return all oil blocks being controlled by northerners to the people of the oil producing states within three months.
According to PUNCH, the militants explained that their action is based on the ultimatum given by the Coalition of Northern Youths for Igbos to leave the region.
They have warned that all companies operating such oil blocks must vacate within the stated period of 3 months; as they will resume attacks and bombings of all oil and gas pipelines, especially the exporting lines to ensure zero production if ultimatum is not yielded.
They have also asked the Federal Government to immediately replace the Inspector General of Police, he Director-General of the Department of State Services and the National Security Adviser with an indigene of the South-West, South-East, South-South respectively.
The coalition comprises Niger Delta Watchdogs, Niger Delta Volunteers, Niger Delta Peoples Fighters, Niger Delta Warriors, Bakassi Freedom Fighters, Niger Delta Movement for Justice, Niger Delta Fighters Network and Niger Delta Freedom Mandate.
The militant leaders include; John Duku (Niger Delta Watchdogs); Ekpo Ekpo (Niger Delta Volunteers): Osarolor Nedam (Niger Delta Warriors), Henry Okon Etete (Niger Delta Peoples Fighters), Asukwo Henshaw (Bakassi Freedom Fighters); Ibinabo Horsfall (Niger Delta Movement for Justice); Duke Emmanson (Niger Delta Fighters Network) and Inibeghe Adams (Niger Delta Freedom Mandate)
The statement read:
A coalition of the Niger Delta militants met today in Port Harcourt to review the recent call by Arewa youth groups that the Ndigbo should vacate all the northern states within three months.
We see the declaration by Arewa youths as a consultative declaration, which the northern elders, leaders, political elite, security heads from the North and governors were fully aware of.
We demand 100 per cent control of our resources. We demand that the Federal Government should hand over all oil blocks owned by the northerners to Niger Delta indigenes. All the companies operating in such oil blocks/wells should vacate within three months.
The Federal Government should immediately relocate the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and all the offices that have to do with oil/gas sector back to Niger Delta states and immediately replace the Group Managing Director (of NNPC) with an indigene of Niger Delta.
All northern indigenes working in NNPC and any other board that has anything to do with oil/gas should be sacked with immediate effect.
We demand an independent and sovereign Republic of Niger Delta. We are tired of living with the North under Nigeria. We are tired of the President’s sentiments to the Niger Delta people.
The President can have time to receive the Chibok girls, but could not have time to meet with the Representatives of the Niger Delta agitators. Our money has been used to fund Boko Haram, a problem created by the northerners in order to use it as a conduit to siphon off the resources of Niger Delta.
On October 1, 2017, we shall declare our independence, come rain, come shine. We shall take our destiny in our hands and free ourselves from the slavery of the North as they are tired of one Nigeria.
From October 1, 2017, we don’t want to see any northerner close to (the) Niger Delta; any attempt to penetrate shall meet fierce resistance. This time, we are not going to play defence, but attack.
We also demand that the Federal Government should immediately replace the Inspector General of Police with an indigene of the South-West, the Director-General of the Department of State Services with an indigene of South-East, and the National Security Adviser with an indigene of South-South.
The Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chris Ngige, has asked the South-east to stop complaining of marginalisation by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration.
He lamented that all his efforts to persuade the Igbo to wisely invest in Buhari’s presidential bid in 2015 failed because of lack of co-operation by many South-east leaders, who threw their weigh behind former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“This is not a question I should answer because I’m a politician. But before these things happened, before the government of Jonathan failed, I went to all the Igbo fora to tell them that the Jonathan government will fall”, he told Thisday.
“I went to our Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo in Enugu twice. They could not even reply to a letter written by Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, seeking for a meeting with them”, he added.
Ngige, revealed how he went to Lagos and convened an Igbo stakeholders forum in William Nwodo’s house in Ikoyi, Lagos in 2014, where he analysed the voting pattern in Nigeria and told them that even if they did not want to support Buhari, they should give him 25 per cent of their votes.
“They refused to listen to me, and to make matter worse, there was no voting in most of the areas in the South-east; they just allocated 5 per cent to APC.
“It was that bad, it is too late to cry when the head is off. Politics is business in a way, you invest in business and you reap profit.
“Yes, that is what it is. But all I want to tell you is that we played bad politics; we made a bad investment because they invested in the Jonathan presidency. They invested in Jonathan more than the South-south, where he hails from.
“I am not saying that is enough to marginalize them or not allow them come in but we are there. I will continue to speak for them and when there is anything to be distributed, we will make sure that the South-east gets its own portion. But they will not get excess portion.
“Even in a family where the head of the family goes to the farm to harvest his yams those who accompany the farmer to the farm get more share.
“When they bring back the yams some of them will be damaged, and the pieces are put out in one section. Then the whole yams are put into the barn and some will be sent to the market for sale. And some will be sent to the family centrally for distribution among the family units.
“Those ones that are in pieces, the extras, will be shared among those that went to the farm. We did not benefit from the extras with people who went to the farm. We didn’t go to the farm in the south-east”, he added.
On what the All Progressives Congress (APC) will be campaigning on ahead 2019, Ngige stated: “Oh my God, so you are in the group of those who are pessimistic, who have refused to see the wonders of this government?
“Well, I’m from the South-east, so when we get there we will show them that first and foremost we have fought corruption to a standstill and that people can no longer steal at will, much less keeping such monies at home.
“The movement was from the bank to the house, but now that homes have been raided, maybe they will go to the farm to keep them. But people cannot steal money because there is no hiding place anymore.
“They cannot steal primitively like it was done before. The poor people of Nigerian are happy about this,” he said.
The APC chieftain said he has no regret for his role in helping to bring Buhari to power, saying if the opportunity presents itself again he will do exactly the same thing.
“If not for this government, the government of Muhammadu Buhari, government of change, Nigeria would have been worse than Venezuela.
“The crisis you have in Venezuela today, the demonstrations in Venezuela, are as a result of the collapse of the whole economic firmament of that country. Venezuela, like Nigeria, did not plan for the rainy day.”
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
