Whether Soludo wears his signature white senator or a fitting t-shirt on a black jeans or the up-and-down APGA apparel carrying the pictures of the Great Ikemba and the Willingly Working Willie as he goes to pick the form in ÀPGA’s Abuja headquarters for the Governorship election coming up in Anambra, is open to conjectures depending on the angle from which you see The Big Elephant.
What however, you can’t miss is that a big fish, in fact, the biggest fish in the race, would make a grand entry in the arena. As a beer advertisement intoned: “real man was here.” There are bound to be cheering crowds for a man that has the followership of 30 support groups, but beyond the activities of the cheerleaders, Anambra, by this event, is embarking on a fruitful journey they have never been on before. It promises to be one of its finest moments. Yes, finally, our finest moment beckons.
If you are struggling with little success, now listen to this real good. Soludo is committed to help millions escape the vice grip of poverty for the remaining days of life. This is his natural turf, so get ready to go. This Charlie Nwa Mgbafor has worn your shoes and knows where it pinches.
Two, he will ensure that children of Anambra will not have need to flock to Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt, as he will create far better versions of these attractive cities.
He has had it all worked out beautifully. Anambra, already a metropolis of sorts, will be developed into a one city state holistically. A beautiful, livable Megacity that will be the most secured, most prosperous and the happiest in Africa.
Of course, naturally and as a corollary from the foregoing, the world will hear, know and come to live, invest, work and enjoy. Ndi Anambra will also proudly go to the world with global brands made in Anambra and enjoyed across the globe. If they step on your feet unjustly anywhere in the world, you will not hesitate to come back to the Anambra Promised land and your life trajectory continues smoothly.
And the big and developing story is that APGA will be a strong and veritable vehicle for negotiating Igbo positions in a plural country like ours.
Today is the beginning of this fruitful journey. This is a journey everyone is invited to, but we must scale the ides of June 23 and November 6, 2021. By His Grace, we will on the morning of November 7, collectively proclaim: VICTORY IS SWEET, LETS CELEBRATE. Boy, ain’t this sweet music to the ears!?
A Non-profit organization and rights advocacy group, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has accused security agencies of allegedly faking killings of terrorists operating in the South-East while simultaneously carrying out actual killings “of many Igbo youths” in the zone.
This is as the rights group called on the Imo state Police Commissioner, Abutu Yaro to carry out thorough investigation to determine “if the persons being paraded dead are actually the killers of the former Presidential aide to President Jonathan Mr. Ahmed Gulak who was gruesomely assassinated on Saturday in Owerri by men described as hoodlums.”
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA said it is sad that “upon the unfortunate incident of the killing of Gulak, there is no empirical evidence demonstrating that Nigerian Police Force deployed science- based, evidence-associated forensic probe of the crime scene but relied on what they said was the testimony of one of the survivors who was reportedly the cab driver who was driving the politician to the Sam Mbakwe International Airport before he met his unfortunate death.”
The statement read: “The police and soldiers are roaming about the streets of Owerri and somewhere in Enugu and even interrupted a church service just to arrest the entire congregation for being members of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB. But armed Fulani herdsmen are having field days in Niger state, Benue state and North-West region of Nigeria killing, maiming, kidnapping and destroying citizens and their property but these same soldiers and police who are actually killing suspected members of IPOB including innocent Igbo youths, have always carried out “audio” and fake raids of Zamfara forests and Kaduna forests.“The police in Imo state blamed the dead man for his unfortunate fate because in their irrational word, Ahmed Gulak left his hostel room to the airport without informing the police and so, had no Police escorts. Now, the fact is that the acting Inspector General of Police had announced withdrawal of all police escorts attached to Very Important Persons, VIPs, in South-East and South-South as previously reported in the media. So how is the Commissioner of Police in Imo state blaming the victim of an unfortunate assassination for the cruel fate that befell him when it was the IGP who announced withdrawal of police escorts.
How can any sane person accept hook, line and sinker, any conclusion reached by the Imo state police command that had blamed the dead man if the same police comes up as they have with the latest tale by moon light that the killers of Gulak have been killed based on hear say evidence?”
“Once more, can we advocate the adoption of 21st century technology in fighting crimes to such an extent that the police be mandated to comply with global best practices in the steps they take to investigate crimes including the deployment of forensic investigative skills?
Onwubiko further called on global leaders to speak up on the mindless killings going on in Nigeria, saying when pushed to the wall, defenseless people in the land may have no other option than to resort to self help.
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), and the Harvard Kennedy School in the United States, have said that Nigeria as a nation, is at a point of no return haven showed all the signs of a failed nation. The organisation which made the disclosure in a research finding it released through its senior fellow and former US Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell and Mr Robert Rotberg, who is the founding director, Harvard Kennedy School’s Programme on Intrastate Conflict and president emeritus, World Peace Foundation, said Nigeria is currently in its final phase, from which it would eventually collapse.
The organisation said their position was not based on emotion or the fancy of using pejorative words to described the situation, but on “a body of political theory developed at the turn of this century and elaborated upon, case by case, ever since.”
Its report said Nigeria has since moved from being a weak state to “a fully failed state,” having manifested all the signs of a failed country, including the inability of government to protect the citizens, large scale violence and festering insurgency.
According to them, President Muhammadu Buhari admitting that the Federal Government has lost control of the situation is the first step towards the restoration of stability. The duo warned that Nigeria’s failure as a state comes with negative consequences for peace and security in West Africa sub-region as well as Europe and the US.
“Nigeria has long teetered on the precipice of failure. But now, unable to keep its citizens safe and secure, Nigeria has become a fully failed state of critical geopolitical concern.
“Its failure matters because the peace and prosperity of Africa and preventing the spread of disorder and militancy around the globe depend on a stronger Nigeria.
“Its economy is usually estimated to be Africa’s largest or second largest, after South Africa. Long West Africa’s hegemon, Nigeria played a positive role in promoting African peace and security.
“With state failure, it can no longer sustain that vocation, and no replacement is in sight. Its security challenges are already destabilising the West African region in the face of resurgent jihadism, making the battles of the Sahel that much more difficult to contain.
“And spillover from Nigeria’s failures ultimately affect the security of Europe and the United States.
Indeed, thoughtful Nigerians over the past decade have debated, often fervently, whether their state has failed. Increasingly, their consensus is that it has,” the report published on foreignpolicy(dot)com on Thursday, said.
The report further says, “There are four kinds of nations: the strong, the weak, the failed, and the collapsed.
“According to previously published research estimates, of the 193 members of the United Nations, 60 or 70 are strong—the nations that rank highest in the listings of Freedom House, the human rights reports of the U. S. State Department, the anticorruption perception indices of Transparency International, and so on.
“There are three places that should be considered collapsed: Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen.
“Eighty or 90 U.N. members are weak. Weakness consists of providing many, but not all, of essential public goods, the most important of which are security and safety. If citizens are not secure from harm within national borders, governments cannot deliver good governance (the essential services that citizens expect) to their constituents.
“Possibly a dozen or so states are failed, including the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, and Myanmar. Each lacks security, is unsafe, has weak rules of law, is corrupt, limits political participation and voice, discriminates within its borders against various classes and kinds of citizens, and provides educational and medical services sparingly. Most of all, failed states are violent.
“All failed states harbor some form of violent internal strife, such as civil war or insurgency. Nigeria now confronts six or more internal insurrections and the inability of the Nigerian state to provide peace and stability to its people has tipped a hitherto very weak state into failure.
“According to political theory, the government’s inability to thwart the Boko Haram insurgency is enough to diagnose Nigeria as a failed state. But there are many more symptoms. At a bare minimum, citizens expect their states to keep them secure from external attack and to keep them safe within their borders.
“The bargain that subjects long ago made with their sovereigns was being kept from harm in exchange for allegiance and taxation. When that quid pro quo breaks down, a state loses its coherence, its social fabric disintegrates, and warring factions subvert the social contract that should provide the fundamental foundation of the state.
“Nigeria now appears to have reached the point of no return. Indeed, few parts of Nigeria are today fully safe,” the report added.
PRESS STATEMENT
THANK YOU: BIAFRA DAY FREEDOM MESSAGE FROM BIAFRA TO HUMANITY
1. Sunday, 30 May 2021, was a day we honoured our heroes and heroines. The Biafra De Facto Customary Government led by her Chairmen, Alhaji Dokubo-Asari, appreciates and salutes all Biafrans, friends of Biafra and her sympathisers all over the world—–who en mass dedicated themselves to the solemn commemoration of and prayers in the honour of our brave men and women that have sacrificed all in the name of Biafra and the Biafran people.
2. However, it is sad to note that the battle to keep Biafra and Biafran people safe has changed. Our streets have become more dangerous and unpredictable and those who seek to cause harm and destruction take the opportunity all too often.
3. Today, Biafra De Facto Customary Government (BDFCG) continues to urge all of you to dedicate yourselves to the ultimate restoration of Biafra. Please remain peaceful in the face of adversity, and danger around us.
4. We reiterate and reassert that having been awakened by the crisis and defined by the cause to restore Biafra and human dignity, no one can take away the Biafra and Biafran in you. We are all Biafrans, and together we shall restore the Republic of Biafra against all threat to lives, peace or tranquillity, all fears, excuses, limitations, and those that try to hold us back.
5. We must continue to do everything humanly possible to overpower the desire to kill and destroy our land. We shall restore Biafra with the most demanding mission, through consultation with those willing to work with Biafra to restore Biafra not for glory but for honour.
6. BDFCG is working diligently for her consolidation to usher in our second republic and with the immediate and long-term policies which shall be indispensable base for peaceful settlement and negotiation. We have embarked on consultation of Biafran Provinces, we strongly hold on security of lives and properties; and finally arranging and preparing for international engagements.
7. Pro Biafra Groups continue to render unconditional support to BDFCG not because of anything other than that it is the basic requisite for the freedom victory of Biafrans and we appreciate it greatly.
8. As we march together with fortitude, moral, and physical resilience to restore liberty to all; as we collaborate, cooperate and coordinate for hope, justice, and freedom for all, Biafra remains our Heritage and our all, upon the Rock that is Biafra, we shall continue to pay our homage and eternally renew our allegiance.
Thank You
Signed
Uche Okafor Mefor
Head of Information and Communication
Biafra De Facto Customary Government
We live daily today in the shadow of terrorists. Our economy is collapsing. Many families cannot afford the price of food. Millions of young men and women have no jobs and have no hope.
Our university students know more about ASUU strikes and long school closures than any skills they need to be competitive in the world of the 21st century.
Only the rich and powerful can access quality healthcare in our country or abroad as medical tourists, because our health system, like most other systems, is broken. I lost my father, Isaac Moghalu, in December 1998 because he had a stroke but the doctors were on strike, and therefore we could not get him adequate healthcare on time.
Soon after we found a private clinic and moved him there, he went into a coma and passed on shortly afterwards. I was heartbroken. Today, 23 years later, not much has changed. Like many, I have suffered personally the effects of bad governance in our country.
With life in it increasingly nasty, brutish and short, the very idea of Nigeria is now almost meaningless to many Nigerians. Cries for self-determination fill the air in response to fundamental injustice.
Meanwhile, politics in Nigeria does not bring change, and its benefits go to only one group — the political elite. Their message is loud and clear: we the people — you and I — DO NOT matter.
The bodies of Nigerians are buried in cold corners of foreign cemeteries, strewn across the Sahara desert, and float in the Mediterranean Sea as a consequence of a non-existent leadership.
Our country can no longer speak confidently in the gathering of nations. Life as ordained by our Creator, that we may experience His Goodness in this land of the living, has eluded us as a people.
Only the emergence of visionary, competent and inclusive national leadership, on the one hand, and a fundamental restructuring of Nigeria based on a new people’s constitution, on the other, can arrest Nigeria’s ongoing disorderly and violent degeneration into a completely failed state. We were not born to be miserable and to die miserable. Enough is Enough!
It is now more than ever necessary that we elect in 2023 a leader who is TRULY committed and has the capacity to initiate the constitutional restructuring of Nigeria. A leader who is competent to secure our lives and property, successfully manage our diversity, save our economy, and restore our international respect.
For the sake of the youth of our country—including my four children—whose future is being drowned in reckless foreign borrowing, and for the sake of all Nigerians suffering and seeking a clear alternative status quo, I intend, with all humility, to present myself—again—as a candidate for the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2023 general elections.
If elected, I will run a government with a dream team of highly competent Nigerians from all parts of our country. Along with strengthened, independent institutions, we will deliver results on a 4-point agenda in four years (4 by 4):
• Security for all Nigerians and Nigeria’s territory
• War against poverty: skills, jobs for our youth, and an innovation economy
• Accelerated education and healthcare reform
• Good Governance: Inclusive, transparent, effective and accountable.
This is my SWAG Agenda for a 21st century Nigeria. I seek the support of all compatriots—of everyone who is tired of our present national situation. We also need the energy and support of the youth, the middle class, entrepreneurs, and our compatriots in the diaspora.
These important segments of our population have in the past been reluctant to engage actively in our electoral process, ostensibly because of the flaws in that process.
The National Assembly must now pass into law, with no further delay, necessary electoral reforms that will make democracy yield real dividends for Nigerians.
Our votes must count and be counted transparently. The amendments should include a provision for Diaspora Nigerians to be able to register and vote in all elections in Nigeria from abroad.
I am only one face of a movement. A movement of silent and suffering Nigerians fed up with the insecurity, poverty, and a seemingly hopeless future for our country. A movement that has decided that Enough is Enough.
That movement, soon to be present in our numbers in every voting ward in Nigeria, will announce within the next few months the political party we will join en masse and seek its platform for the presidential, legislative and gubernatorial roles in governance.
We can do this. We can change Nigeria.
Together, let us walk this road to a Nigeria that, within 30 years of successive administrations, will have achieved the kind of economic and technological advancement attained by countries such as Israel, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates within similar timeframes.
It is possible. We only need to participate actively in the democratic process and vote right when the time comes.
We the Nigerian people matter. We the Nigerian people deserve better. Let’s do this. Because we can and we must.
Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu, Ph.D. OON FCIB
Ifekaego of Nnewi Kingdom
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has declared that the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) cannot give a sit-at-home order to the people of his state because they are not part of South-East.
Wike, speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Monday, reiterated that IPOB doesn’t exist in Rivers.
Recall that IPOB had through its spokesperson, Emma Powerful said human and vehicular movements would be restricted across the South-East on Monday to mark the 54th anniversary of Biafra.
But Wike has now criticized the directive, insisting he is not against the activities of the outlawed group IPOB in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria.
Wike said, “IPOB cannot make an order for people to sit at home in Rivers State. I have said so clearly before because it doesn’t exist in Rivers State.
“Rivers State is not part of South-East. Rivers State is South-South, we’re in the Niger Delta.
“I’m not saying whether the people in the South-East shouldn’t obey what IPOB has said or not. But they cannot give orders to Rivers people to sit at home.”
The Imo State Police command of the Nigeria Police said they have captured and neutralized the gunmen responsible for the murder of Ahmed Gulak, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress.
We have earlier reported that the former aide to ex-President Jonathan was gruesomely murdered by unknown gunmen in the early hours of Sunday around Umueze Obiangwu in Ngor-Okpala Local Government Area of Imo State while on his way to Sam Mbakwe airport.
However, in a statement issued by Imo police command Public Relations Officer, Bala Elkana, on Sunday night, the police said they have neutralised 10 assailants responsible for the death of Gulak
The statement reads:
“On 30/5/2021 Sequel to the killing of Ahmed Gulak by Some criminals who suddenly came out to block the Imo Airport road at Obiangwu Junction at Ngor~okpala LGA of Imo state.”
“The Driver of the Vehicle conveying Ahmed Gulak to the Airport was immediately interviewed and he described the Vehicles the Hoodlums were using as One Toyota Camry 2005 Silver color, Toyota Sienna 1998 Model Gold Color, Toyota Hilux White color, Lexus RX 330 Gold Color.”
“Police teams from the Special forces,PMF, IRT, IMO State Command Tactical Units who have all reached the Scene of the killing were directed to immediately Proceed on Patrol and look for those Vehicles.”
“Fortunately at Afor Enyi-Ogugu junction in Same LGA the Police Teams came in contact with the Hoodlums with same Vehicles mentioned by the Driver, The Hoodlums have already confiscated a trailer loaded with Onions from the North and were busy sharing the onions to the local Population as they also took positions to Protect themselves and attack any incoming Security agents.”
“The Hoodlums on sighting the Police teams immediately Opened fire on the teams and the Galant teams returned Fire and eventually fatally wounded 10 of the Hoodlums during the gun battle while others were pursued as they escaped with their vehicles. 3 of the Four Vehicles Toyota Sienna, Toyota Hilux and Toyota Camry use by the IPOB/ESN Terrorist for their Operation were Demobilized/Recovered and 7 of the Terrorist with bullet wounds were completely burnt down inside the Toyota Sienna and Hilux Vehicles that caught fire during the Gun battle.
“3 Ak47 Rifles, 1 English Pistol, 5 Ak47 Magazines, 92 Ak47 Ammunition, Several Charms and 3 Operational Vehicles of the IPOB/ESN were recovered.”
“Serious efforts in progress to trace and arrest Several wounded IPOB/ESN Terrorist members who are hiding in the surrounding Forrest and villages. The 3 bodies of the IPOB/ESN Terrorist not burnt down were brought to the Police state Headquarters while efforts to recover the burnt bodies of the Hoodlums to the Police state HQ in Progress.”
The Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), has encouraged all patriotic Igbo people across the globe to observe the May 30 Biafra Remembrance Day, as according to it, the day remained an important part of the history of Igbo nation.
The ADF which made call in a statement signed by its president, Professor Uzodinma Nwala and spokesperson, Chief Abia Onyike on Friday, argued that May 30 has become an official Igbo Remembrance Day, which cannot be wished away.
The Indigenous People of Biafra had called for a candlelight procession on May 30 and sit-at-home on May 31 in honour of those killed during the Biafra war.
However, opposing the call, the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, yesterday asked residents to go about their activities without fear.
The governor said his administration said had finalised arrangements with security operatives to contain any eventuality
But throwing its weight behind the decision the May 30 commemoration, ADF maintained that the event is deeply rooted in the heart of Igbo people and which nobody can wish it away or ban it by force of Law or prevent it by force of arms.
“Events in Alaigbo on May 30, each year show that May 30 has become an official Igbo Remembrance Day not only within Alaigbo but throughout the entire world where Igbo citizens live. Each year from London to Johannesburg, to several cities in Europe, Asia, America and Canada, the story is the same with various activities organized by Umuigbo and their friends to mark the occasion,” ADF said in the statement.
“Back home the entire Alaigbo have often been shut down; markets, shops, schools and offices closed while streets are deserted to mark the Remembrance Day.
‘The Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) is fully aware that May 30 is a day in the history of Alaigbo, deeply rooted in the heart of our people and which nobody can wish away or ban by force of Law or prevent by force of arms.
“It is in the light of this that the ADF fully supports observance of May 30, this year as Igbo Day Celebration. We urge all Igbo patriots to celebrate this year’s event on Sunday, 30th May, 2021. Let Ndigbo celebrate it as a solemn occasion by going to Church, wearing of black bands and fasting including peaceful activities lined out for the day by different Igbo organizations.”
The ADF said May 30 is day the defunct Biafra Republic was declared, and no conscious Igbo person would deny that Biafra is part of their history.
“May 30 marks the day Biafra was declared in 1967 and no patriotic Igbo son or daughter can pretend that Biafra is not part of the history and indeed the major water-shed in the history of the Igbo nation,” the group noted.
“If anyone is in doubt let him recall what has often happened on May 30, especially in 2017 and 2018 when our sons and daughters under the aegis of IPOB, MASSOB and other Pan-Igbo organizations declared a SIT-AT-HOME to commemorate Biafra Day as a historic day in the life of Ndigbo, while other forms of memorial activities take place to mark the historic day.
“The total compliance of that call throughout the length and breadth of Alaigbo was not because these pan-Igbo and pro-Biafra organizations had become their supreme authority. No! That call evokes intense yearning in the innermost recesses of the hearts and minds of Umuigbo.
“Consequently, whosoever provoked the observance is welcome as a lover of the Igbo nation. BIAFRA evokes intense longing for freedom for our people. Biafra is indeed more than a state of the mind. It is also a material force that moves our people.”
According to the group, Biafra has remained in the mind of Igbo people because it symbolizes their longing for freedom.
“Why will Biafra not symbolize their longing for freedom, when their predicament since the Amalgamation in 1914 up to the Biafra Declaration on My 30, 1967 and ever since Biafra has been a continuous state of estrangement, brutal attacks and punitive measures against their spiritual, economic, political and physical survival?
“The Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF), therefore, proposes that Umuigbo should turn May 30 every year to be observed as a REMEMBRANCE DAY – a day to remember our history, to review our successes and failures, to remember those who have died fighting for the Igbo cause and also think of our future,” the statement concluded.
In a statement on Friday to mark its 60th year in Nigeria, Osai Ojigho, director of AI Nigeria, said “flagrant disregard of human rights” and “suppression of dissenting voices” remain issues of concern in the country.
“Not much has changed about human rights in Nigeria since 1967 and the concerns remain flagrant disregard for human rights, failure of authorities to protect the people, threats to human rights including the right to freedom of expression, suppression of dissenting voices and lack of accountability,” she said.
“Incessant killings and the stunning failure of the authorities to end them and bring suspected perpetrators to justice have been and continues to be a threat to the right to life in Nigeria.
“From the days of military’s heavy-handed rule to the years of civil rule and up to today violation of human rights by both state actors and abuses by non-state actors continue to be matters of concern.
The human rights watchdog also lamented the crackdown on protesters, saying citizens have the right to peaceful assembly.
“While facing violations or policies that undermine people’s rights, Nigerians always resort to protest – and other peaceful means of seeking change,” Ojigho said.
But violent clampdown on protests remains a major area of human rights violation. Protest is not a crime and Nigerians must be able to assemble peacefully and express themselves without fear.
“We are concerned that the civic space is shrinking and the fear of violence by security forces and sponsored thugs are undermining the right to peaceful protest, and having profound impact on other human rights.”
