A Coalition Of Igbo Intelligentsia Launches Int’l Justice Campaigns Against Buratai & Others

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February 2, 2021

…seeks their declaration as persona non-gratae anywhere in the world and life jail for atrocities against unarmed Igbos & Ors

Int’l Joint Statement

Nigeria, 2nd Feb 2021

Executive Summary

We, the undersigned human rights and intelligentsia coalition of old Eastern Nigeria origin, working toward redressing abuses and violations of human rights of grievous nature as defined by int’l instruments have today resolved to launch local and int’l justice campaigns against the immediate past Nigerian Army Chief, Retired Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai and over 20 others concerning their atrocious rights abuses while in office. The referenced int’l justice campaigns specifically border on justice for the victims of the horrendous rights abuses and violations and the severe punishment of their perpetrators. The chief perpetrator in this regard is immediate past Army Chief, Retired Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai. Others in the list are senior serving and retired military and police chiefs, as well as the Govs of Anambra and Abia States; all numbering over 20.

Secret Execution Of Six Igbo Christian Soldiers At Abacha Barracks

We have received with rude shock and deepest dismay the Monday, 25th Jan 2021 secret execution of six Igbo Christian soldiers, attached to the Armory Department of the Nigerian Army, Abacha Barracks in Abuja. The slain Igbo Christian soldiers; namely: Prince Ukwuoma, son of a traditional ruler; Ebube Isaiah, Amos Azubuike, Ekene Ebere, Moses Anyim and Godwin Uchendu were secretly executed under the instruction of now Retired Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai, a day before he left office on Tuesday, 26th Jan 2021. This shocking news was disclosed to us by Barr E.R. Okoroafor, an int’l human rights lawyer, who is very conversant with the matter and was also contacted by one of the slain soldiers through his family to defend them in the trumped up charges, executed using hazy and clandestine Military Court Martial.

According to the int’l rights lawyer, “sometime in Sept 2020, an allegation of missing weapons was made at Abacha Barracks and it was immediately traced to a senior Colonel of Fulani-Hausa Muslim origin and instead of the COAS to issue query and sanction the Colonel, he exonerated him on the grounds of his tribe and religion. The COAS turned around and ordered for the arrest of 12 soldiers guarding the armory, comprising six Igbo soldiers, three Yoruba soldiers and three Fulani-Hausa Muslim soldiers. In the end, the latter soldiers were shielded and exonerated under questionable circumstances and the six Igbo soldiers made to face secret court martial during which they were blocked and prevented from having access to their families and defense lawyers of their choice”.

Barr E.R. Okoroafor also told the Coalition that his attempts to stand in for the Igbo soldiers were stiffly opposed and he was flimsily told by the Army’s Legal Department that “civilian lawyers are not allowed to defend the accused soldiers except military lawyers”. Their trial was totally shrouded in secrecy and never disclosed to the public through Army statements till date; likewise their constitutional right of appeal to Court of Appeal and Supreme Court which was also totally denied. The persecuted and executed soldiers protested their innocence to the point of tendering their resignation in protest; all to no avail.

Apart from their secret execution being totally despicable and condemnable and a clear case of ethnic cleansing, the Coalition also strongly suspects that the six Igbo soldiers were framed or singled out for persecution on the grounds of their ethnicity and religion. It is also doubtful whether the offense of ‘missing weapons’ in peace time is commensurable with death sentence in the Nigerian Military laws, all subject to the provisions of the 1999 Constitution as amended. Another shocking part was where the immediate past Army Chief derived his power to order for secret execution of “justly” and “unjustly” convicted soldiers. This is more so when there is a national moratorium on death penalty in Nigeria. The Coalition therefore notes further that dozens, if not hundreds of Igbo soldiers have in recent times particularly since 2017/8 died under similar circumstances both in battle fronts and ‘peace time’. Additionally, there have been several reported and unreported cases of dismissals, resignations and desertions involving soldiers and officers of old Eastern Nigeria extraction on account of the ethnic cleansing under Buratai as Nigerian Army Chief.

Hundreds Of Obigbo Army Abductees Still Unaccounted For

According to facts available at Intersociety, hundreds of defenseless Obigbo residents are still missing or unaccounted for more than three months after their abduction by the Nigerian Army under Lt Gen Tukur Buratai (as he then was). A total of over 400 Obigbo residents had gone missing between late Oct and second week of Nov 2020 after the Army invasion of Obigbo and its environs on 21st Oct 2020; out of which 52 were rescued and freed in Niger State. Total of 93 others have so far been rescued and freed in Abuja. As it stands, 63 more names have been traced to different Army secret detention facilities in Abuja and at least three have been confirmed killed in Army detention among hundreds of those still being held captive and incommunicado in secret military locations..

Recommendations

· It is our strong recommendation that the named perpetrators especially Retired Lt Gen Tukur Buratai must face prosecution and life jail at ICC or in national courts in any foreign country operating int’l criminal jurisdictions on crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

· We also call for a harvest of civil suits against the perpetrators by human rights lawyers and victims of the horrendous crimes under reference

· Members of the international community especially the western democracies and the UN as well as international human rights organizations and institutions are particularly called upon to take diplomatic and advocacy notice of the named perpetrators and their atrocity crimes. This is for purpose of holding them judicially accountable and ensuring that they end up being int’l pariahs.

· The int’l Governments and Intergovernmental agencies should ensure that the perpetrators are declared “persona non gratae” including slamming them with appropriate international sanctions.

· Sanctions against them should include making them ineligible in all regional and international military, policing and other security or diplomatic engagements especially those involving corporate and individual or intergovernmental consultancies, contracts, partnerships, exchange visits, awards, presentations, board or institution appointments, holidays, etc.

· Other non judicial sanctions being recommended against the perpetrators include denying them and their family members visas, freezing their accounts and seizing or confiscating their assets abroad, etc.

· It is also our expert information that the perpetrators especially Lt Gen Tukur Buratai can be arrested and taken into custody in foreign land and criminally charged through the instruments of municipal, active personality, passive personality and universal or international criminal jurisdictions or be sued through the instruments of civil claimant litigations, etc.

End of Executive Summary

Nigeria Grievously Breaches Its Int’l Commitments

The Nigerian Government is a monumental failure in terms of keeping with its regional and int’l human rights and humanitarian obligations or commitments. The grievous rights abuses and violations by the Government and its security chiefs include those provided and clearly defined in various international instruments with ‘justiciable binding effects’. Among them are crimes of genocide defined by the Article 6 of the Rome Statute; crimes against humanity defined by the Article 7 and war crimes defined by the Article 8 of the same Rome Statute of the Int’l Criminal Court. The Rome Statute was internationally enacted in 1998 and entered into force in 2001. Nigeria signed and ratified it on 27th Sept 2001.

Nigeria is also signatory to the Genocide Convention of 1948, Geneva Conventions or Laws of War of 1949 and its Protocols and Rules of Engagement (Jus In Bellum, Jus Ad Bellum and Jus Post Bellum) and Use of Force and Proportionality of same. Signed and ratified by Nigeria, too, with binding effects are the African Charter on Human & Peoples Rights (including Right to Self Determination via non armed resistance) of 1981; Int’l Covenants on Civil & Political Rights and Economic, Social & Cultural Rights of 1976; Convention against Enforced Disappearances of 2009 and Convention against Torture of 1985. These sets of int’l crimes are also prohibited by the country’s grundnorm or the 1999 Constitution; majorly categorized by the country’s body of criminal laws into: ‘crimes against persons’ and ‘crimes against properties’.

International Prohibited Acts: These include: murder, extermination, enslavement, deportation or forcible transfer of population, unlawful imprisonment, unlawful killings, unlawful executions, abduction of slain victims’ bodies, extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, torture, persecution against an identifiable group on the grounds of tribe/ethnicity and religion, enforced disappearance of persons, the crime of apartheid and other inhumane acts of a similar character intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health.

19 Massacres Perpetrated By Nigerian Army Under Buratai & Ors

Not only that many, if not most of the heinous crimes highlighted above were grisly perpetrated in Nigeria when Retired Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai held sway as the country’s Army Chief, but there was also zero accountability as they were swept under the carpet till date by the authorities; thereby breaching the Rome Statute’s ‘Principle of Complimentarity & Zero Impunity’. Under Retired Lt Gen Tukur Yusuf Buratai as Nigeria’s Army Chief, according to grounded statistics provided by the Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law; a highly respected research and investigative advocacy group monitoring the grievous crimes and their perpetrators since 2015; the following 19 massacres and related others have taken place with none of the perpetrators brought to justice till date.

They include: (1) the 30th August 2015 massacre of 40 defenseless citizens of Judeo-Christian faith during peaceful protests in Onitsha, Enugu, Yenagoa, Uyo, Port Harcourt and Asaba; (2) 2nd and 17th Dec 2015 massacre of 30 defenseless citizens of same faith in Onitsha; and (3) 14th-15th Dec 2015 massacre of no fewer than 1000 unarmed Shiite Muslims during their religious processions in Zaria (Government later admitted massacring 348); (4) 18th and 29th Jan 2016 massacre of 20 defenseless citizens of Judeo-Christian faith during peaceful protests in Aba; (5) 9th Feb 2016 massacre of 30 unarmed protesters in Aba; (6) 29th and 30th May 2016 massacre of 140 defenseless citizens of Judeo-Christian faith during global Igbo Heroes Day in Onitsha and Nkpor (110 deaths) and Asaba (30 deaths), (7) the 2016 starvation to death of 240 civilian detainees including 29 children with ages between newborn and five years at Giwa Army Barracks in Maiduguri, Borno State (AI Report: 2016); (8) 7th Jan 2017 military massacre (air bombing) of 236 internally displaced persons (IDPs) at Christian IDP camp in Kala-Balge, Borno State; (9) 20th Jan 2017 massacre of 20 unarmed protesters (pro-Trump rally) in Port Harcourt; (10) 4th Dec 2017 massacre (air bombing) of 50 rural Christians in Numan, Adamawa State; and (11) 11th to 14th Sept 2017 massacre of over 180 unarmed and defenseless citizens of Judeo-Christians faith in Ogwe, Aba, Isiala-Ngwa and Umuahia, all in Abia State.

The rest are: (12) 29th and 30th Oct 2018 massacre of 47 Shiite Muslims in Abuja; (13) 29th/30th June 2020 Army massacre of 30 unarmed Tiv Christians in Taraba State; (14) 23rd August 2020 Army massacre of over 30 Judeo-Christian worshippers and sports activists in Emene, Enugu State; (15) 20th night of Oct 2020 massacre of over 20 defenseless protesters in Lekki, Lagos State; (16) Oct 2020 massacre by Army/Police of over 300 unarmed citizens across Nigeria during the EndSARS protests including over 70 killed in Lagos and 50 killed in the Southeast, (17) Oct/Nov 2020 massacre by Army of not some 102 defenseless Igbo citizens in Obigbo, Rivers State, (18) abduction between 22nd Oct and 10th Nov 2020 of over 400 defenseless Obigbo residents in Rivers State and their clustered incommunicado detention in different military dungeons in Northern Nigeria, during which scores were tortured or shot dead in captivity; and (19) Jan 2021 killings by Nigerian Army in Orlu, Imo State where about defenseless residents of the area have so far been reported killed. The Orlu Army killings is led by a hateful Fulani-Hausa Muslim Army commander, named ‘Brig Gen Ibrahim Tukura’, Commandant, 34 Brigade, Obinze, near Owerri, Imo State.

Other Leading Perpetrators In The 19 Massacres

(1)Retired Lt Gen Abayomi Olanisakin, former Chief of Defense Staff (co-supervised the Sept 2017 massacre of over 180 defenseless Southeasterners and maiming of over 130 others in Abia and killing of not less than 102 Obigbo residents, maiming of 120 others and abduction of over 400), (2) Retired Air Chief Marshall Sadique Abubakar (supervised the air bombing of not less than 300 Christians in Jan and Dec 2017 in Borno and Adamawa States), (3) Major Gen Ibrahim Attahiru (new Army Chief of Staff and coordinator of the massacre of 216 defenseless Easterners in 2015/6 in Anambra and Abia States), (4) Retired IGP Solomon Arase and Retired IGP Ibrahim Kpotum Idris (co-supervised the massacre of over 400 defenseless Easterners on 30th August, 2nd and 17th Dec 2015, 18th and 29th Jan, 9th Feb and 29th and 30th May 2016 in Anambra and Abia and 20th Jan and 11th-14th Sept 2017 in Abia and Rivers States), (5) Retired Director Musa Daura (former DG, SSS and state intelligence provider in referenced massacres that took place in 2015, 2016 and 2017) and (6) Major Gen Adamu Baba Abubakar, (former GOC, 82 Division, Enugu and coordinator of the massacre of over 180 defenseless Easterners in Sept 2017), (7) Major Gen Lasisi Adegboye (current GOC, 82 Division, Enugu and formerly a principal staff officer of the Division and co-coordinator of the massacre of over 180 defenseless Easterners in Abia State in Sept 2017).

The rest are: (8) Major Gen Abdul Kalifa Ibrahim (former Brigade Commander, 14 Brigade, Ohafia and co-coordinator of the massacre in Sept 2017), (9) Major Gen John Enenche (former Defense Headquarters Spokesman and co-supervisor of the massacre of 180 defenseless Easterners in Sept 2017), (10) Brig Gen Isa Maigari Abdullahi (former Commandant of 302 Artillery, Onitsha and coordinator of the 2nd and 17th Dec 2015 and 29th and 30th May 2016 massacre of over 180 defenseless Easterners in Anambra and Delta States, (11) Retired DIG Jabila Joshak (9th Feb 2016 Aba massacre), (12) Retired AIG Hosea Karma (2016 World Igbo Day massacre in Anambra and Delta), (13) Retired DIG Anthony Ogbizi (Sept 2017 massacre in Aba, Umuahia, etc), (14) AIG Babatunde Johnson Kokumo (2016 World Igbo Heroes Day massacre in Anambra), (15) Major Gen I.H. Bature (Sept 2017 massacre in Aba, Umuahia, etc), (16) Major Gen Enobong Okon Udo(supervisor of 20th Jan 2017 pro Trump rally killing of 20 defenseless citizens in Port Harcourt, Rivers State), (17) Brig Gen Sagir Musa (co-supervisor in the killings of Dec 2015 to Sept 2017 in Anambra and Abia), (18) Col Umar Sidi Kasim (Commanding Officer, 144 Battalion, Asa in Abia State and coordinator of the 9th Feb 2016 and Sept 2017 massacres in Aba, Umuahia, etc), (19) Col C.O. Ibrahim (Onitsha Cantonment Military Police Officer and troop commander of the 29th and 30th May 2016 World Igbo Heroes Day massacre in Anambra and Delta), (20) Govs William Obiano and (21) Victor Ikpeazu of Anambra and Abia States (mobilized and funded the 2016 World Igbo Heroes Day massacre in Anambra and the 9th Feb 2016 and Sept 2017 massacres in Aba, Umuahia and others), etc. The office immunities of the two Govs will elapse on 17th March 2022 and 29th May 2023 respectively.

Attached Photos belong to four of the six slain Igbo Christian soldiers; namely: (1) Prince Ukwuoma (in Army uniform with rifle), (2) Ebube Isaiah (in Army uniform with rifle), (3) Moses Anyim (in civilian cap) and (4) Godwin Uchendu (in passport)

Signatories:

· Emeka Umeagbalasi (M.Sc.), Board Chair, Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law

· Prof Anthony Ejiofor-Chairman, World Igbo Congress (USA)

· Prof Uzodimma Nwala-President, Ala-Igbo Dev Foundation (ADF)

· Prof Justice Chidi-President, Concerned Elites for Better Society Initiative

· Prof Justin Akujieze-President, Ekwenche Research Institute (USA)

· Dr. Moses Nwaigwe-President, Biafra Genocide Survivors Group (USA)

· Austin Okeke, Esq.-Global Leader, Igbo Board of Deputies (UK)

· Kanayo K. Odeluga, MD., MPH-Executive Director, Igbo League, Inc.(USA)

· Mercy Alu, MBA, PhD-Executive Coordinator, the Int’l Association of African Authors & Scholars (USA)

· Dr. Onyenkachi Orjiako, Esq.-Rep, Int’l Society for War Against Lawlessness (USA)

· Dr. Okezie Kelechi-ED, Neighborhood Environment Watch Foundation

· Dr. Jerry Chidozie Chukwuokoro-Rep, Int’l Solidarity for Peace & Human Rights Initiative

· Comrades Chilos Godsent & Zulu Ofoelue-Reps, Igbo National Council

· Ezekwike Chekwube Violet, Esq.-Founder, New Home Mentoring & Dev Initiative

· Comrade Aloysius Attah-Chair, Civil Liberties Organization, Southeast

· Maazi Tochukwu Ezeoke, President, Igbo Ekunie Initiative

· Comrade Justine Ijeoma-ED, Human Rights Social Dev & Environmental Foundation

· Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme-Chair, Civil Liberties Organization, Anambra State

· Comrade Peter Onyegiri-ED, Center for Human Rights & Peace Advocacy

· Comrade Alex Olisa-Rep, Southeast Good Governance Forum

· Comrade Nnana Nelson Nwafor-ED, Foundation for Environment Rights Advocacy & Dev.

· Comrade Nkwocha Anozie-ED, Initiative for Ideal Dev & Emancipatory Leadership

· Comrade Emeku Uche-Rep, Easy-life Initiative for Rural Youths

· Comrade Samuel Njoku-Chair, Human Rights Organization of Nigeria

· Comrade Ngwobia O. Ngwobia-Rep Primate Salvation Initiative

We Have Started Mobilizing One Million Voters In Anambra – Asuzu

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February 2, 2021

How to Avert Another Civil War in Nigeria By Dele Momodu

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bvichannel1

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January 30, 2021

Fellow Nigerians, I know how easy it is for men and women in politics, particularly those in the hallowed corridors of power, to readily dismiss important warnings by well-meaning citizens as rantings of enemies of government, but I’m the last person anyone could ever label as such. Without being immodest, my credentials as a patriotic Nigerian are definitely unassailable. Even if I am labelled as one of such Nigerians, I know my duty as a responsible, proudly Nigerian patriot, and I will never be deterred by such negativity. It is for this reason that I am sending out another warning this week borne out of my love and concern for the wellbeing of our dear beloved country. I don’t really mind if this selfless service is ignored like many before it. This is a duty that I must discharge, otherwise I will not be true to myself.

But let me start on a happy note. I do not know if President Muhammadu Buhari was pressured into dropping his former military chieftains this week by events that played out in the forests of Ibarapa spearheaded by Sunday Igboho, and the advice and admonition of truly non-partisan nationalistic Nigerians, but I’m happy that for whatever reasons, he eventually succumbed and did what was long overdue. I had only last week described the erstwhile military chiefs as being an incompetent security team, and that was putting it mildly. The Nigerian military that was once the toast and darling of the United Nations peacekeepers everywhere has been virtually reduced to a ragtag force in the last five years. Yet the big Generals in the Army, Navy and Air Force carried on in a business-as-usual manner, as if everything was well. They appeared more interested in other activities like operation python dance or crocodile dance, jumping against innocent, defenceless civilians than the primary tasks they were assigned to do of providing security against external and domestic insurgency and terrorists.

I hope that the President realises that his job is not done. Our security, safety and protection are not merely in the hands of the military. There are internal law enforcement agencies like the Police, Department of State Security, Civil Defence Corps and similar domestic organisations that need a similar severe and drastic shake up. We are being ceaselessly attacked from both without and within and our security apparatus and architecture needs complete overhauling and remodelling.

I pray the new Service Chiefs will learn from the mistakes of their predecessors and restore glory to our armed forces. This can be achieved if they resist the temptations of getting deeply involved and too enmeshed in the murky waters of Nigerian politics. Their loyalty should always be to the country and not to any leader or individual. We all witnessed what happened recently in America, how the military stood firm in defence of democracy. In this clime, the story would have been different. I wish them the best of luck.

I do not know how many of our young impetuous, temerarious friends are aware of the theory that no country can survive two civil wars, but it seems that’s what we are toying with and inviting unto ourselves, so recklessly. Let me inform my young and old friends beating the tamtam drums of war, that war is not a tea party. It is not disco or clubbing. War is a serious business. The Civil war of 1967-1970 will pale into insignificance in comparison with any war that may occur now. This is not a war that will be fought with mere guns or even machine guns. We will have more sophisticated armoured tanks and shells, but of more concern is that there will be bombings, missiles and such similar arsenal deployed. I don’t even want to think of chemical warfare which is the norm in those countries foolish enough to bringing war into their land. Unlike the civil war of 1967, millions, not hundreds of thousands will perish in no time! Nobody will be spared. The destruction and devastation will be complete and this doomsday scenario is scary and eerie. Perish the thought, there will be no Yoruba nation or Biafra, just some balkanised desertified and desecrated entities. The only beneficiaries will be the warmongers and their agents as they will profit from the sales of arms and ammunitions. If that is what is desired, very unfortunate, but I have sounded the alarm and speak the language of peace because I know the horrendous price of war.

Why is it so difficult for us to know what we need to do but refuse to do it so stubbornly and stoically? I will now go ahead to give a breakdown of what we urgently need to do in order to avert what seems like an impending war to me.

The ball is in the President’s court. And this is not a tough game at all. Let the President free his heart and soul and love every Nigerian the way I’m sure he loves his own family. The President should see himself as the father of the nation. That is essentially what he claimed he would be when he delivered his maiden Presidential speech to the nation on 29 May 2015. We’ve virtually wasted close to six years fighting a fractious war of attrition. Our nation has never been this divided since the last civil war and it is absolutely unnecessary.

Why do I think war is impending? No one needs the gift of clairvoyance to see what’s ahead. The temperature of bitterness in Nigeria at the moment can boil a stone into pulp. It is sad that a country as endowed as Nigeria has been reduced to a nation of cows. The beautiful Fulani race has also been demoted and is now synonymous with herdsmen. That’s so disgraceful and unfortunate. I have a lot of well-educated, cultured and hardworking Fulani friends. I’ve been asking some of them how come they mismanaged their brand to the extent that cows and livestock now define everything they represent?

President Buhari’s emergence is believed to have energised the herdsmen who now feel adequately protected and untouchable. Until the President disowns the criminals and bandits and encourage and empower our security agents to treat them like the irritants and nuisance that they are, the present crisis will persist and escalate for the worse. The President needs to be told without mincing words that cattle rearing is a private business. It is none of government’s business. And certainly none of our own business. The cattle rearers should register their businesses like other Nigerians, buy land or rent their own farmlands and keep their herds within the confines of their own ranches or farms. No businessperson has the right or freedom to destroy the farm or premises of another person, eat up, burn or destroy his crops, defile and rape the other person’s family, in short literally and figuratively defecate shamelessly everywhere. As if that is not bad enough, they now brandish unregistered and extremely dangerous weapons, so confidently. In which abnormal country is that allowed and condoned except Buhari’s Nigeria!

If the cattle rearers have been allowed to roam the streets and our forests for decades and centuries, the time has now come to put a stop and an end to such backwardness. The world has since moved on. We are in the 21stcentury and not in the Stone Age. Farming and livestock breeding are now more industrialised and revolutionised. Technology has taken over. Let us upgrade how we breed and rear our cattle and other livestock. Can chicken farmers go to different parts of Nigeria and just erect their poultry on people’s private properties, even peacefully, not to talk of carrying AK-47s to browbeat and assault their generous landlords. I don’t even want to mention Piggeries and Fisheries.

I wish to say emphatically that the Governors of the States affected by this cow conundrum should never allow any form of wandering again. Those who want to continue to do the business should go and buy huge tracts of farmland and build modern farms under strict and stringent regulations! If the Governors succumb to pressure and allow this madness, of a dangerous misadventure to continue, they will have the spilled blood of their people in their hands, and they will never be able to wash them off like the Biblical Pontius Pilate. There is nothing so special about cattle rearing that should warrant this over-pampering and preferential treatment. And if the herdsmen insist that this is their culture and the only way they know how to ply their trade, they should then be restrained, restricted and banished to their Fulani territories. They cannot supplant their culture and custom on those gracious enough to welcome them to their farmlands and homes.

If care is not taking, this controversial cow business may easily trigger the civil war, most especially, if the Federal Government decides to acquire people’s land by force. I’m certain the South East and South West people have virtually declared the herdsmen persona non grata and they should respect the wishes of the people. The heated tension this is generating is totally reprehensible.

I hope the President remembers that most Southerners rejected him repeatedly between 2003 and 2011 because of the widespread belief that he’s a religious zealot and Fulani irredentist until he somehow managed to persuade Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki and others that he’s a reformed and born-again Democrat. I vividly recollect how many Nigerians warned us fervently not to make the mistake of bringing Buhari back to power. It is not true that we hated President Goodluck Jonathan. No. Most people were simply tired of the 16 years of PDP in power and the obvious profligacy and rape of our commonwealth.

Many Nigerians wanted a disciplined and simple leader who would not steal our treasury and treasures dry. No doubt, Buhari looked like that near-perfect candidate. No one ever envisaged the level of suppression, repression and unprecedented oppression that would soon engulf the whole country.

President Buhari should please spare a moment to remember and pity all the innocent people who vouched for him and not let them regret that they ever did. Nigeria is just too close to the precipice and anything can happen. He should encourage the cattle men to take strategic positions in the Northern forests. I understand that Sambisa forest is so massive that we can create many new cities and towns out of it. Let them go to the banks and raise funds to start industrial parks dedicated to livestock breeding and its offshoots and since they already possess their own guns, these might be the solution and deterrent to the Boko Haram menace as well. They will keep the bushes and forests occupied and make it difficult for terrorists to stroll in and out of the country like they currently do.

The second time bomb in Nigeria is the issue of religion. The President must know and understand that Nigeria is a secular country, and he must totally downplay religion and allow everyone to deal directly with his/her God. It is again not the business of government to intervene or be involved in religion. If we can curb religious bigotry and intolerance, a lot of our problems would have been resolved and eliminated. The government will save the huge sums of money we spend on sending pilgrims to Mecca and Jerusalem. A country as broke and impoverished as Nigeria can no longer afford that kind of reckless spending. No religion is superior or inferior to the other. Every Nigerian should be free to practice his religion anywhere without any fear of harassment.

I have said it many times. The Nigerian police should be very well equipped and upgraded. We do not need soldiers on the streets in peace time. All we need is identify very bright officers like the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Hakeem Odumosu, who has demonstrated professionalism all the way and has reduced crime to the barest minimum in Lagos State. This achievement is possible because he is conversant with the territory and he is a hands-on officer. I read about how he goes out every night to personally monitor what’s going on and he does not suffer fools gladly. I remember a friend who wanted to influence a matter, but everyone told him not to bother because “Odumosu will not bend the rules!” He desisted. I’m sure, the force can identify other competent officers and replicate what he is doing in Lagos in other States. It is all about putting those who understand certain terrains in places they understand very well. Police officers are like journalists and we are as good as the sources and resources available to us.

The third issue that can ignite trouble is the attempt to completely marginalize the Igbo people 51 years after the supposed end of the Civil War. Despite coming out of the ruins and ashes of the civil war, the Igbo have amply demonstrated their uncommon brilliance and resilience. They’ve been performing spectacular feats locally and globally. There is no country in the world you won’t meet Igbo people doing great things. Why can’t we then take advantage of their mega talents to create our own Silicon Valley in the South East, for example? Given the necessary support, the Igbo will compete favourably against the Chinese, Indians, Koreans, Japanese and others, if not surpass them. The Igbo have become so tired of the country called Nigeria and any sincere person cannot fault them. It is the reason Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has become a folk hero and cult figure. Any little provocation may trigger an explosion in the South East which may snowball into the South West and become a veritable unquenchable fireball! I will plead with President Buhari to do everything possible not to let this happen and that instead he will do everything to bring all Nigerians together.

However, if the President insists and decides that he can use bullying tactics, intimidation and force to suppress the visible, palpable agitations in Yorubaland and Igboland, may God help and rescue us all…

Ndigbo Will Boycott 2023 Election If……..

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bvichannel1

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January 29, 2021

Eye Opener: Every Igbo Person Must Watch This Video

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bvichannel1

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January 29, 2021

Biafrans Wait For National Assembly Public Hearing – Barr Emeka

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bvichannel1

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January 29, 2021

UPDATE ON THE MEMORANDUM FOR DEVOLUTION OF POWER SUBMITTED BY THE BIAFRANS TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY:

I write to inform all the Biafrans who believe in the legal methodology of self-determination consisting of the judicial, political and diplomatic processes that this afternoon, I called the Senate Committee of the National Assembly and spoke with the Clerk of the House. I contacted the Senate Committee on behalf of my clients, Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra, the Plaintiffs in the on-going case between Biafra and Nigeria in the Federal High Court and Court of Appeal.

I enquired of the date for the Public Hearing on the Memorandum we submitted for Devolution of Power to the Regions by way of Restructuring the Federation. The Clerk informed me that they were at the finishing stage of the process and would soon announce the date for the Public Hearing on the Memoranda submitted by all the parties. He said that the date for the Public Hearing would be announced, published and made known “all over the place” (to use his exact phrase).

I therefore advise all the Biafrans under the authority of the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra to be patient as we shall have the opportunity to present our case in the National Assembly for the Restructuring of Nigeria into Regional Governments by way of Devolution of Power so that every Region will govern itself and develop at its own pace in Nigeria. Regional Autonomy is the Phase 2 of the Biafra Project.

For more information about us, please visit our website at www.ipobgovernment.org and put your details in the Biafra Database if you are a Biafran by indigenous identity. If you are unable to login to the website from Nigeria, please send an email to customary.government@gmail.com; or info@ipobgovernment.org for assistance.

Thank you

Emeka Emekesiri, Esq.
For: Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra

Nigeria Records her Worst Global Rating on Corruption

By

Queen Madu

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January 29, 2021

Nigeria has recorded her worst global rating on Corruption Perception Index since 2015.
In the 2020 index released yesterday by the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), the country’s chapter of TI, Nigeria scored 25 out of 100 points, dropping to 149 out of the 183 countries surveyed, taking the nation three steps down from the 146 scored in 2019.
In the report, Transparency International said the reason behind Nigeria’s worst ranking stemmed from an absence of transparency, nepotism, lack of adequate anti-corruption legal frameworks, the prevalence of bribery and extortion in the Nigerian Police and corruption in the security sector, among others
Reacting, the presidency faulted TI’s report, saying Buhari’s administration deserves credit for diminishing corruption in the public service and will continue to vigorously support prevention, enforcement, public education and enlightenment activities of anti-corruption agencies.
In a statement, yesterday, the presidency said TI’s report is not an accurate portrayal of the facts on ground.
“In the coming days, the Government’s Technical Unit on Governance Research (TUGAR) will be providing more detailed information on the sources of the TI data.
While this is being awaited, the examination carried out on their 2019 report showed that 60 percent of their data was collected from businesses and other entities with issues bordering on transparency and the ease of doing business at the ports.
“Although this is a government ready to learn from mistakes and make corrections, the economy of this country, in its fullness, is bigger than the sea ports we have.
We are also not unaware of the characters behind the TI in Nigeria whose opposition to the Buhari administration is not hidden.
“We have repeatedly challenged TI to provide indices and statistics of its own to justify its sensational and baseless rating on Nigeria and the fight against corruption. We expect them to come clean and desist from further rehashing of old tales.
“A naira denominated review that excludes recoveries in dollars, pounds, euro shows that a sum of N1.2trillionn was recovered by EFCC between 2009 — 2019. N939billion of that total was recovered between 2015 – 2019 with less than N300billion recovered in the first six years.
“Additionally, preventative instruments deployed by this administration such as Treasury Single Account (TSA), Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) coverage expansion and the removal of 54,000 ghost workers from federal civil service saving us N200bn annually serve as evidence that perception is not reality.
“Organisations should be factual in their analysis and be prepared to rely on inputs outside of sensational media reports and age-old narratives which have not been updated to reflect today’s reality in Nigeria concerning its globally-respected war on corruption…”
Meanwhile, anti-corruption crusaders in Nigeria have reacted to the 2020 Corruption Perception Index (CPI) report of the Transparency International (TI), which suggests that corruption is becoming more endemic in the country.
Former Chairman, (TI), Nigeria chapter, Gen Ishola Williams (retd), said: “At all levels of government in Nigeria, from the president to the governors, we all know what the TI is saying is true. Check throughout the world, how many countries do you know that has made it a habit to gather every month to share money to the states and local government areas and no body asks what happened to all the money that is shared?
“President Buhari has given up on his promise to fight fraud, embezzlement, corruption or whatever he calls it. He just admitted less than 48 hours ago that the APC finds it difficult to deliver on some of their programmes, and one of their major promises is to fight corruption. Go through the national dailies or check online any day, you see stories that will make you very sad. We don’t need the TI to tell us that corruption is still endemic in Nigeria. In fact, if TI knows the true reflection of things in Nigeria, we should be at the very bottom.”
Executive Director, Centre for Anti Corruption and Open Leadership (CACOL), Debo Adeniran, argued that the TI’s report is based on perceptions by the CPI, which may not necessarily reflect the truth.
“The perception may not necessarily be the true reflection of the reality. From all indications, corruption crimes are no longer committed with brazenness as before. But, if the perception says corruption is on the rise, then where is the data and the facts and figures behind the perception? At our own level, we don’t have that data, what we suspect is that because more corruption cases are exposed and taken to court; there are now more information on how corruption is committed by who, when and how, that makes it easier for data hounds to easily get information from just anybody and make it seem as if there is more prevalence of corruption. Until the perception meets reality, we believe that the fight against corruption has taken a new dimension and that corruption crimes are more difficult to commit. We don’t have any data from TI to suggest that corruption is getting worse than before,” he said.
Former President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), Dr. Olisa Agbakoba, SAN, noted that the federal government has a strategy on corruption, but said it needs more coordination in three important areas, namely, investigation, prosecution and assets recovery. He said that, crucially, the anti corruption strategy must be concerned with speed of justice, otherwise, its impact will be affected.

Buhari administration, APC title holders in corruption- PDP
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, said Nigeria’s rating in the 2020 corruption index report by Transparency International (TI) has confirmed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) led federal government is the most corrupt administration in the history of the country.
The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said: ”This descent into the abyss of corruption only goes to show that President Buhari’s anti-corruption stance is a mere swindle used to delude Nigerians, while the vaults were laid open for APC leaders and officials of the Buhari administration to plunder.
“Indeed, the record of unbroken decline from 136th in 2016 to 144th in 2018, 146th in 2019 and now 149th in 2020, under President Buhari, the African Union (AU) Anti-Corruption Champion’, settles the now notorious fact that the Buhari administration and the APC are title holders in corruption.
“Nigerians can now see that what the APC and the Buhari Presidency did, upon assumption of office, was to simulate a holier than thou attitude, deploy the instrument of propaganda to deliberately castigate the PDP with false corruption allegations, just to divert public attention and create a safe atmosphere for APC leaders to loot our nation to her knees.
“The fact remains that no matter how lies and falsehood try to prevail, the truth will always come to light at the end of the day.
“From the oil and inland revenue sectors to security, health, agriculture, food security, healthcare, transportation, road infrastructure, power, education, environment, among other critical sectors, none was spared from the kleptomaniac fingers of corrupt APC leaders and the cabal in the Presidency.”
The opposition party added: “Nigerians can now see that our alert on the allegation of the stealing of over N15 trillion by APC leaders and political cronies in the Presidency was not just an opposition propaganda, but a patriotic stance which the APC and its administration has not been able to counter.
“The Buhari administration has failed to go after APC leaders and cronies allegedly involved in the stealing of over N9.6 trillion as detailed in the leaked NNPC memo, the over N3trillion in fraudulent oil subsidy regime as well as trillions stolen from agencies including, the Federal Inland Revenue Services (FIRS) the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the National Health Insurance Scheme, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the Social Investment Programme as revealed by First Lady, Aisha Buhari, the COVID-19 funds among a litany of frauds.
“The financial rot in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) under the Buhari administration, including stealing of recovered funds, underscores the level of corruption under the APC.
“It is equally appalling that the decay has reached a frightening situation where, under Mr. President’s watch, employment opportunities are sold to young boys and girls at alarming costs ranging between N1.5 and N5million.
“Moreover, the Buhari Presidency has failed to open up on its yearly budget for Nigerians.
“Now that the Buhari-led APC administration has been further exposed, our party charges Nigerians to join in the demand for the APC, as a party, to commence the processes of refunding the N15 trillion stolen by its leaders before exiting our political firmament in 2023.”

Sun

We’ll Never Accept Seriki fulani, We will Rather Die- Igangan Community

By

Queen Madu

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January 29, 2021

Residents of Igangan in the Ibarapa North-West Local Council Development Area of Oyo State have vowed never to allow the now-ejected Seriki Fulani, Abdulkadri Saliu, to return to the community.

According to them, accepting the Seriki Fulani back in the town was tantamount to self-suicide, adding that they would rather die than to accept Saliu back in the town.

“The entire town would rather go into self-suicide than to accept Seriki back. We would rather lay down our lives than for us and our generations to come to be subjected to the evil reign of Seriki again,” the Convener, Igangan Development Advocates, Oladiran Oladokun, told The PUNCH on Friday.

Oladokun was reacting to a statement made by the Seriki Fulani that he would consider moving back to Igangan.

“If given opportunity to return to the community I would consider moving back to Igangan,” Saliu, whose family members have settled temporarily in Ilorin, Kwara State, had said on Thursday.

popular Yoruba rights activist, Sunday Adeyemo, well known as Sunday Igboho, had asked herdsmen accused of perpetrating sundry crimes in Ibarapaland to leave within seven days.

At the expiration of the ultimatum, Igangan residents, emboldened by Igboho’s presence had ejected the Seriki Fulani and his herders out of the rustic town.

Speaking with our correspondent on Friday, Oladokun said the residents of the town have been exhaling breathe of fresh air and relief since the eviction of Saliu and his men.

He said farmers now have renewed hope of returning to their farms to continue agricultural activities without fear of being raped, kidnapped and killed.

The IDA leader said the people of the community would not want any order that would truncate the momentary peace and tranquility that they have started enjoying.

“Our people will not allow that reign, that enslavement to come back now that they have tasted freedom a little.

We are now relieved. People can’t go to farm for so many months but people are now thinking of going back to their farms and they are now having hope of a better life and you want to take that hope from them? Our people won’t allow that,” the youth leader said.

Continuing, Oladokun said, “In the media, people perceive what happened in Igangan as an exaggeration. But for about 20 years, Igangan lived under the oppressive blood carnage championed by the Seriki himself. How do I know? Why is it that on every occasion, no Fulani has been prosecuted?

If the Seriki is really who he claims to be and he cares so much about the town, why did he not bring out at least one culprit and say, ‘Igangan people, this one that you claimed killed a farmer last week, this is him, we got him for you. We don’t want criminals amongst us, we don’t people to tarnish our image.’ Why hasn’t the Seriki done that over the years?

“Seriki claimed he had no control over Igangan but it is a lie; he held control over the town and the killings, he held sway over Igangan, even the Asigangan of Igangan land and the chiefs were helpless and they bowed to him. That is why they (herders) committed a crime, they would go to him (Seriki) and he would ask them to relax even if they killed or raped a woman in the farm. He would tell them it was the Ja’mah (congregation) that did it,” he alleged.The IDA leader further urged the Presidency and the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to launch a comprehensive investigation into the allegations levelled against the Seriki Fulani to uncover and ascertain the truth of the matter and bring the culprits to book.

Punch

Meet the New Service Chiefs and their Profile

By

Queen Madu

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January 27, 2021

Profile of new service chiefs

Irabor

Irabor hails from Agbor in Delta State and is a member 34 Regular combatant of the Nigerian Army.

He is an alumnus of Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife and holds two Masters Degrees from the University of Ghana, Accra, and Bangladesh University of Professionals, Dhaka.

Before his appointment as the CDS, Irabor was Chief of Training and Operations, Defence headquarters.

The General was formerly the Theatre Commander of Operation Lafiya Dole as well as Force Commander, Multinational Joint Task Force in the Lake Chad Basin Area. He is a distinguished awardee of several militaries, ECOMOG and United Nations Awards and Medals.

Attahiru

He hails from Kaduna North Local Government of Kaduna State and he was born in 1966.

Before his appointment, he was in charge of the 82 Division, Nigerian Army.

Attahiru replaced Irabor as Theatre Commander of Operation Lafia Dole in the North-East in 2017.

Amao

Chief Air Staff, Air Vice Marshal Isiaka Oladayo Amao was born on September 14, 1965 at Enugu. He hails from Oshogbo Local Government Area of Osun State.

He enlisted into the Nigerian Air Force on January 19, 1984 as a member of 35th Nigerian Defence Academy Regular Course and was commissioned as Pilot Officer on December 20, 1986. He has the following academic qualifications: Master’s of Science in Defence and Strategic Studies from University of Madras India, Master of Military Science and Strategy and Advance Diploma in Defence and Strategy Studies from National Defence University China, Post Graduate Diploma in International Relations and Diplomacy from Kaduna Polytechnic Nigeria, National Diploma in Freshwater and Fisheries Technology from Federal College of Freshwater and Fisheries Technology, New Bussa Nigeria and Nigerian Defence Academy Certificate of Education.

Air Vice Marshal Amao has attended the following courses:

Primary Flying Training, at 301 Flying Training School Kaduna Nigeria.
Basic Flying Training at 303 Flying Training School Kano Nigeria.
Tactical Fighter Training at 99 Air Combat Training Group Kainji Nigeria.
Instructor Pilot Course at 301 Flying Training School Kaduna Nigeria.
Aircraft Accident Investigation in Civil Airline at Nigeria Civil Aviation Training School Zaria Nigeria.

Appointments held include,

Deputy Defence Adviser (Air) at Nigerian High Commission London.
Air Component Commander Operations ZAMALAFIYA and LAFIYA DOLE. (North East Nigeria Operation).
Deputy Theatre Commander (Air) Operation LAFIYA DOLE.
Air Officer Commanding Tactical Air Command Makurdi.
Chief of Training and Operations Nigerian Air Force.
Chief of Policy and Plans Nigerian Air Force.
He is currently the Commandant Armed Forces Resettlement Centre, Lagos.

Gambo

The Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Awwal Gambo was born on April 22, 1966 and hails from Nasarawa LGA in Kano State.

He enlisted into the Nigeria Navy on September 24, 1984 as a member of Regular Course 36 and was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant on Sept 24, 1988.

He is an Underwater Warfare specialist with a subspecialisation in InteIIigence. The senior officer has attended several military courses which include; Sub-Technical course and Officers Long course both at NNS QUORRA.

He also attended Junior Division 48/99 and Senior Course 26 both at AFCSC Jaji. Other courses attended include the National Defence Course at the South African National Defence College. Until his appointment as the CNS, he was the Director of Procurement at the Defence Space Administration. The senior officer holds a PGD in Transport Management and a Master‘s degree in Transport Management (Logistics option) both from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology. He is also a member of the Nigerian Institute of Management, Fellow of the Certified Institute of Shipping. Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria as well as a fellow of the National Defence College, South Africa.

Punch

Breaking : Buhari Sacks Service Chiefs ,Appoints New Ones

By

bvichannel1

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January 26, 2021

President Muhammadu Buhari has accepted the immediate resignation of the Service Chiefs, and their retirement from service.

Those involved are the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai; Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

President Buhari thanks the outgoing Service Chiefs for what he calls their “overwhelming achievements in our efforts at bringing enduring peace to our dear country,” wishing them well in their future endeavours.

The new Service Chiefs are: Major-General Leo Irabor, Chief of Defence Staff; Major-General I. Attahiru, Chief of Army Staff; Rear Admiral A.Z Gambo, Chief of Naval Staff; and Air-Vice Marshal I.O Amao, Chief of Air Staff.

The President congratulates the new Service Chiefs, and urges them to be loyal and dedicated in the discharge of their responsibilities.

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
January 26, 2021