Buhari described the endorsement of his major opponent in the 2019 presidential poll as inconsequential and lacking in substance, saying that the moment the so-called resolution was announced, he got calls from well-meaning leaders from the region asking him to disregard it, as it was without any substance
COLOSSUS GISTS recalls that Igbo leaders had, at a summit in Enugu State on Wednesday, reportedly endorsed Atiku’s candidacy for the 2019 presidential poll.
President Buhari said that his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), got it right from the very beginning – that the major problems facing the country were mainly on security, corruption and the economy.
A statement by his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, quoted the president as saying:
“We have done so much. Given the chance, we will do more. Given every chance, we will tell Nigerians where we were in 2015 and what we have achieved up to now. We will not get tired of speaking about the golden opportunity Nigeria lost during 16 years of the PDP. We earned money, which we didn’t use.
“The state of infrastructure we inherited was terrible – no roads, the railway was killed and power (also was killed). They lacked conscience because anybody with a conscience will not do what they did. We will report them to Nigerians. Let anybody lead this country but not the PDP. They were so reckless with the resources of the country.
“If you ruin the economy, send your children abroad to get an education, won’t they come back? I said it 30 years ago that this is the only country we have. We must stay here and salvage it together.”
The leader of the delegation, Engineer Emeka Ekwuosa and the national chairman of the United Progressive Party (UPP), Chief Chekwas Okorie, informed President Buhari that the Igbos and Southeasterners generally understand the good things he is doing for Nigeria, which they said had unfortunately been misunderstood.
They promised to mobilise support for him in the South East, saying that his re-election will be a national consensus.
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.”
The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Saturday, slammed the Defence Headquarters for labeling the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) as a terrorist organisation.
The orgnisation made this stand after a meeting held at the Nike Lake hotel in Enugu last night.
Ohanaeze insisted that IPOB is not a terrorist organization going by extant national and international laws, especially the Terrorist Prevention Act 2011, as amended in 2015.
Reading their communique after the meeting, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, strongly frowned at the military operation in the zone and urged the army to terminate the exercise without further delay.
The group said it would soon hold a special summit in support of the restructuring agenda, adding that they support all the resolutions of the Southern leaders forum.
The group noted that the continued policy of marginalization of the South East zone was the basic cause of renewed agitation by pro-Biafra groups. Those who attended the meeting included, President General, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, Abia State Governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, Imo State Deputy Governor, Prince Eze Madumere and Ebonyi State Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe.
Others are former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof Joe Irukwu, former Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nworgu, former Minister of Information, Walter Ofonagoro, former Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Prof Chigozie Ogbu, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Dr. Greg Ibe and former Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chukwuemeka Ezeife.
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.
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 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.
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