Some prominent leaders of thought on Friday asked the United Nations Security Council, African Union (AU), European Union, United States and the British governments to urgently convoke a sovereign national conference to discuss the constitutionality and essentiality of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria and the 1914 Amalgamation of Southern and Northern Nigeria within 90 days.
According to a statement they issued after a meeting in Lagos, this is to save the people from further quagmires, subjugation, stagnation and squalor.
Speaking on the platform of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination, the leaders, numbering about 127, described the Nigeria’s 1999 constitution as a fraud.
They said they gathered to “pronounce an end to our toleration of Nigeria’s Unitary Constitutional Order, unilaterally imposed and forcefully maintained by a section of the Nigerian country, in negation of the federal basis upon which Nigeria became one political union at independence in 1960 and in brutal subjugation of our collective sovereignties currently being forcefully and fraudulently appropriated by the Nigerian State.”
They added that the Nigerian constitution was a confiscation of the sovereignties, powers and assets of the people of the South and Middle Belt of the country.
Those who attended the meeting included a former governor of Plateau State, Jonah Jang, a Second Republic senator, Professor Banji Akintoye, a former minister, Professor Yusuf Turaki, a former vice-chairman of Arik Air, Senator Aniete Okon, President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Nnia Nwodo, Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe, Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, both retired, the leader of Middle Belt Forum, Dr Bitrus Pogu, and over 100 others.
The Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination is “a joint-cooperation framework for the self-determination initiatives of the Southern and Middle-Belt of Nigeria”.
According to the group, the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria was a wholesale adoption of the 1979 edition via Decree No.24 of 1999.
They said it had revalidated and reinforced the aforementioned hijack and confiscation of the sovereignties, powers and assets of the four erstwhile federating regions by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The statement said: “There is a countrywide consensus against the unitary constitutional arrangements imposed incrementally on Nigeria by a combination of guile, brute force and impunity between 1966 and 1999 now codified by the 1999 Constitution.
“This countrywide consensus had manifested in several unilateral regional and joint multi-regional actions in repudiation and rejection of the Unitary 1999 Constitution of Nigeria.
“The first indication was when in the year 2000, the 12 contiguous states of the Far North simultaneously imposed and began to implement Sharia in their domains against the express provision of the 1999 Constitution which in Section 10, forbids the adoption of any state religion.
“This translates to a unilateral secession from the secular union of Nigeria.
“Between 2005 and 2006, a sovereign conference of the ethnic nationalities of Nigeria, convened by the Pro-National Conference Organizations (PRONACO), deliberated exhaustively and produced a draft Peoples’ Constitution 2006 which had the potential of restoring Nigeria to its damaged federal foundations.
“Though ignored by successive Federal Governments in Nigeria, that draft became the new federating consensus against the prevailing unitary constitutional order in Nigeria”.
As 2023 is approaching, there have been renewed calls and agitations for restructuring, with different groups, calling for one form of rearrangement or another.
Recently, a former president and military head of state, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, gathered representatives of socio-cultural and ethnic groups in Kaduna, where they issued a statement saying Nigeria had been divided as never before.
Those who are against the calls for restructuring argue that the National Assembly, comprising of representatives of the Nigerian people, is the sole institution that can decide on the constitutional outlook of the country.
On 6th December, 2020, the Imeobi Ọhanaeze, the policy making and elite inner caucus organ of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization met at the iconic Nike Lake Resort Hotel, Enugu.
The meeting which was packed with Igbo heavyweights including Governors/Deputy Governors, Senators, Ministers, etc went well with the President General, Chief Nnia Nwodo presenting his impressive score card at “his valedictory Imeobi”.
Unfortunately, the atmosphere got charged when it got to the last but most important issue – the setting up of an Electoral Committee for the Ọhanaeze Election to choose Nwodo’s successor, next January.
After Nwodo presented the list of the Electoral Committee there were mixed reactions. Firstly, Senator Dr Chris Ngige, the Hon. Minister of Labour & Productivity noted that the meeting was not properly constituted since many of those present were not Imeobi members ; a point which the President General acknowledged.
Ngige noted that contrary to the practice in Ọhanaeze, there was no consultations regarding the Anambra State list and that “practising politicians” being in the list was contrary to the Ọhanaeze Constitution which stipulated that card carrying members of political parties should not be involved in piloting the affairs of the Igbo apex body. He was referring to Senator Ben Obi who was Atiku Abubakar’s campaign Manager at the last Presidential Election and was appointed Chairman of the Committee.
Senator Rochas Okorocha likewise rejected his State’s list, stating that neither him nor other past Governors from Imo State were consulted for the compilation of their State’s list. He stated as well that the claimed meeting of Imo stakeholders where Prof George Obiozor was chosen as a concensus candidate was a charade since he and other key stakeholders like former governors of the state were unaware of such a meeting.
In the past, the practice was that at the floor of the Imeobi, every state would be asked to present their nominees, the States would then confer among themselves, consulting even those absent, if need be, before arriving at a list.
Nwodo handled that explosive situation with profound maturity just like late Justice Eze Ozobu, the first Ohaneze President General would. As an erudite judge, Ozobu’s maxim was “audio otra partem”. Nwodo listened to the other party, calmly promising to address their observations.
Several eminent Igbo leaders kicked against that Electoral Committee with some even seeking for court action. Notably, Prof Ụzọdịmma Nwala, an Igbo elder statesman and President, Ala-Igbo Development Foundation (ADF) summed everything up in his press statement “Rejecting the Electoral Committee and asking Nwodo to call a properly constituted Imeobi soonest where each state shall select its list for the Electoral Committee”
Surprisingly and commendably, Chief Nwodo dissolved the Senator Ben Obi Electoral Committee and fixed another Imeobi on December 20th, 2020. According to Winston Churchill, “The price of greatness is responsibility”. Being the President General, Nwodo took responsibility for whatever shortcomings that were observed in the last Imeobi.
Indeed, this is a mark of leadership. Some others in his place would have ignored the voice of reason out of pride. When, at the earlier Imeobi, he promised that all complaints would be addressed, most saw it as “a political statement”. However, as an old boy of the College of the Immaculate Conception, CIC, Enugu, a school that has the enviable record of having produced more state Governors than any other East of the Niger, Nwodo kept faith with his alma mater’s motto: Semper Fidelis.
“Lekwa abụ m na ajị adịghị ya”; that is the import of Nwodo’s action as an evidence that he had “no skeleton in his cup board” .
As someone who has been involved in Ohaneze Ndigbo at the national level for almost 21 years, I appeal to Ndigbo, especially Ndị Ọhanaeze to reciprocate this noble gesture by believing that he has the capacity and intention of superintending over a transparent election in line with his statement at the last Imeobi that he intended being transparent and had no intention of “choosing his successor”.
Again, I urge Igbo leaders to act with patriotism. In line with the Ohaneze Constitution, practising politicians should recuse themselves from the Electoral Committee to avoid smearing the Electoral process with their 2023 Presidential politics. “Onye gara ugbo, gaara onye nọ n’ụlọ. Onye nọ n’ụlọ nọrọ onye gara ugbo”. Frontline Igbo politicians (practicising politicians) should be content to serve Ndigbo through their political parties. They should avoid the temptation of playing prominent roles in Ohaneze while still fronting for their partisan merchandise.
Finally, the President General, as one of the framers of the Ohaneze Constitution, should ensure that the forthcoming Imeobi is held in strict compliance with it. As such, only statutory members of the Imeobi, as stipulated in section should attend. According to Article 12 of the Ohaneze Constitution, they include; serving and past President Generals, Secretary Generals and Deputy Secretary Generals(as the only representatives of the NEC). Others are serving and past State Governors, Senate Presidents, Speakers of House of Representatives, 1 representatives of the Senate and the House of Representatives, 6 distinguished elders to be selected by the Imeobi from each state, accomplished captains of Industry and representatives of different professional bodies, as may be decided by the Imeobi, etc.
Most importantly, in line with section, an Ohaneze General Assembly meeting should be held to ratify the Imeobi resolutions. The General Assembly recognized by “the Constitution” as the highest decision making body has unfortunately not met in the past four years. The sidelining of this vital organ saddled with the responsibility of electing new National executives was one of the reasons given by the group that erroneously sought to register Ohaneze General Assembly at the CAC.
*Mazi Ikechukwu Bismarck Oji, MNSE*
Former National Chairman, Ohaneze Youth Wing(2006-2008) /Stakeholder, Ohanaeze Ndigbo since 2000
NOTICE OF CONSTITUTIONAL GRIEVANCES, DECLARATION OF
CONSTITUTIONAL FORCE MAJEURE AND DEMAND FOR TRANSITIONING
PROCESS FOR AN ORDERLY RECONFIGURATION OF THE
CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA. (Being the
Joint Proclamation of a Sovereignty Dispute by Accredited Delegates of Nigerian
Indigenous Nationalities of the Southern and Middle Belt Territories of Nigeria,
Issued This 16th Day of December 2020 in Lagos).
This Proclamation is Titled:
CORRECTING THE MISTAKE OF 1914
PROTOCOLS.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press.
(1) As the Distressed Federation of Nigeria wobbles in what seems it’s Terminal
Throes; As Young Nigerians Rise up Massively in Revolt against System that Ruin
their Present and Compromise their Future and as Bloody Conflicts rage in all
parts of Nigeria in disputation of the Terms of the Distressed Nigerian Union;
and As Concerns mount in the International Community, first, regarding the shaky
Future of the Troubled Nigerian Federation, and second, the impact of a possible
disorderly Dissolution of Nigeria over the West African Sub-Region, the rest of
Africa and indeed the World.
We gather here this day as Accredited Delegates of the Constituent Component
Nationalities of Nigeria, under the aegis of : “Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities
Alliance for Self-Determination”, being a Joint-Cooperation Framework for the
Self-Determination Initiatives of the Southern and Middle-Belt of Nigeria on behalf
of our Various Peoples and Interests, to Pronounce an end to our toleration of
Nigeria’s Unitary Constitutional Order, Unilaterally Imposed and Forcefully
Maintained by a Section of the Nigerian Country, in negation of the Federal Basis
Upon which Nigeria became one Political Union at Independence in 1960 and in
brutal Subjugation of our Collective Sovereignties currently being Forcefully and
Fraudulently appropriated by the Nigerian State.
We gather here today before the Global Community, to Formally Proclaim a
Sovereignty Dispute in Rejection of the Further Operation of the Imposed, Unity
Constitutional Arrangements of Nigeria and in Assertion of our Inalienable Right
to Self-Determination.
(2) The History of the Colonial beginnings of Nigeria as a Commercial Venture of
Britain is too well-known to admit of any further repetitions here but suffice it to
recall:
(i) That the manipulations that went into the Flawed Foundations laid by the British
in the 1914 Amalgamation of the Protectorates of Southern Nigeria with the
Protectorate of Northern Nigeria, (as revealed in recently Declassified British Colonial Records on Nigeria), created a lopsided Union, locking the Diverse
Peoples of Nigeria into one Political Union with two mortally opposed
Civilizations.;
(ii) That as Independence approached in 1960, the Diversities of the Various
Peoples of the Nigerian Union Dictated the Adoption of the Federal Constitutional
Model by the then three largely Autonomous Regions, (namely Eastern, Western
and Northern Regions of Nigeria) as the Basis of entering Into Independence as
one Political Union in 1960.
(iii) That amidst the early strains of Post-Independence Nigeria arising mainly from
the aforementioned Foundational and Pre-Independence manipulations by the
British Colonial Rulers of the Nigerian Union, the Military Coups of 1966 Truncated
the Federal Constitutional Basis of Nigeria and plunged the fledgling Union into a
catastrophic 30-Month War with it’s Breakaway Eastern Region between 1967
and 1970, triggered by disputations around the Terms of the Nigerian Union and
leaving in its trail, human carnage in excess of 3million People and a fractured
Union now resting on an Unworkable Unitary Constitutional Order Imposed in
1979, by the Fiat of the illicit “Federal Government” which emerged since the 1966
Collapse of the Federation of Nigeria, Forcefully Hijacking and Confiscating
the Sovereignties of the Constituent Component Regions of Nigeria that
Federated their Sovereignties in 1960.
(iv) That the Prevailing 1999 Constitution of Nigeria which was a wholesale
adoption of the 1979 edition via Decree No.24 of 1999, revalidated and reinforced
the aforementioned Hijack and Confiscation of the Sovereignties, Powers and
Assets of the Four Erstwhile Federating Regions by the aforementioned Illicit
“Federal Government of Nigeria” which by Decrees, fractured the Four Regions
into 36 States, that are completely emasculated by a 68-Item Federal Exclusive
Legislative List that Comprehensively strip the “Federating” States of All Key
Economic Assets and Governmental Powers, thereby creating a totally
dysfunctional, Corruption-Prone, Over-Centralized System that has failed in
every respect, manifesting in Gross Insecurity, Decayed Infrastructure and Mass
Impoverishment such that Nigeria, with its Vast Human and Material Resource
Endowments, has now emerged as the Poverty Capital of the World as well as
the Global Leading Example of a Failed State.
(v) There is a Countrywide Consensus against the Unitary Constitutional
Arrangements Imposed incrementally on Nigeria by a combination of Guile, Brute
Force and Impunity between 1966 and 1999 now codified by the 1999
Constitution. This Countrywide Consensus had manifested in Several Unilateral
Regional and Joint Multi-Regional Actions in Repudiation and Rejection of the
Unitary 1999 Constitution of Nigeria:
(a) The first indication was when in year 2000, the 12 Contiguous States of the
Far North, Simultaneously Imposed and began to implement Sharia in their 3
Domains against the express provision of the 1999 Constitution which in Section
10, forbids the Adoption of any State Religion. This Translates to a Unilateral
Secession from the Secular Union of Nigeria.
(b) Between 2005 and 2006, a Sovereign Conference of the Ethnic Nationalities
of Nigeria, Convened by the Pro-National Conference Organizations
(PRONACO), Deliberated exhaustively and produced A Draft Peoples’
Constitution 2006 which had the Potential of restoring Nigeria to it’s damaged
Federal Foundations. Though Ignored by successive Federal Governments in
Nigeria, that Draft became the New Federating Consensus against the Prevailing
Unitary Constitutional Order in Nigeria. It will be recalled that prior to the 1999
return to Civil Rule in Nigeria and before PRONACO, there was NADECO which
vigorously challenged both the aberration of Military Governance in Nigeria and
Nigeria’s Unitarized Federalism imposed by Military Decrees.
(c) As a way of easing out the Rejected Unitary Constitutional Order and paving
the way for the emergence of a New Federating Consensus, the Conveners of
PRONACO, aggregating under the aegis of the Movement for New Nigeria, MNN,
(being an Alliance of the Regional Self-Determination Initiatives of the South and
the Middle Belt Territories of Nigeria, hereinafter called “the Alliance”), in May of
2007, instituted a Lawsuit at the Federal High Court in Abuja, challenging the
Legitimacy of the 1999 Constitution on the Grounds of Fraud and Forgery and
sought an Order of Court for the Termination of the Operation of the 1999
Constitution via an 18-Month Transitioning Arrangement.
(d) The MNN Alliance by it’s MNN LAGOS DECLARATION OF JUNE 30, 2011
(http://goo.gl/dLVIHR ) Jointly Repudiated the 1999 Constitution as the Basis of
the Nigerian Federation and Mandated the Alliance Blocs to Distill their various
Regional Charters and Constitutional Drafts in readiness for the Inevitable
Fundamental Reconfiguration of the Distressed Nigerian Federation, to be
Ratified by Referendums and Plebiscites. We hereby adopt and incorporate the
said MNN LAGOS DECLARATION OF JUNE 30, 2011 in support of this
Proclamation.
(e) Pursuant to the Mandates of the MNN LAGOS DECLARATION OF JUNE 30,
2011, the Regional Blocs of the MNN Alliance Convened their Various REGIONAL
SOLEMN ASSEMBLIES between 2015 and 2018 namely, the April 27, 2015
Solemn Assembly of the Peoples of the Lower Niger in Port Harcourt, (ie South-
East and South-South); the September 7, 2017 Yoruba Summit in Ibadan and the
July 18, 2018 Emergency Assembly of the Peoples of the Middle-Belt in Makurdi.
Each of these Regional Solemn Assemblies Formally Repudiated and Rejected
the 1999 Constitution as the Basis of the Nigerian Federation, and we hereby
endorse, adopt and Incorporate the Resolutions reached by each.
(f) Having each Rejected the 1999 Constitution as the Basis of the Nigerian
Federation, and in the face of the ferocious but Coordinated Ethnic Cleansthat4
Onslaught of the Murderous Fulani Militia against the Indigenous Peoples of
Nigeria, the MNN Alliance Mobilized the Peoples of the Alliance Territories under
the aegis of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination
to issue the Joint Multi-Regional FREEDOM PARK PROCLAMATION of
December 11, 2018 (https://bit.ly/3mkPFNv) by which the Alliance Territories
Rejected the conduct of further National Elections Mandated by the Repudiated
1999 Constitution and Demanded a Transitioning in place of the largely doomed
2019 National Elections, as a way of putting a time-frame to the Termination of
the Operation of the 1999 Constitution and the Distillation of Successor
Constitutional Protocols. The said FREEDOM PARK PROCLAMATION of
December 11, 2018 is hereby Adopted and Incorporated in support of this present
Proclamation.
(g) It is pertinent to note that across all the Regions of Nigeria, various Socio-
Cultural and Ethnic-Interests Vanguard Organizations have also been vehement
in expressing the Constitutional Grievances of their own People, (some even
violently), thus on the Yoruba side, we have the Afenifere, the Yoruba Elders
Council (YCE), Agbekoya, the Yoruba Liberation Command, (YOLICOM), YWC
and many more including the ILANA OMO OODUA which now aggregates
Several Yoruba Self-Determination Initiatives across the World. In the Eastern
part of Southern Nigeria, we have Ohanaeze, Movement for the Survival of the
Ijaw Ethnic Nationality in the Niger Delta (MOSIEND); Ijaw National Congress,
(INC); Ijaw Youth Council (IYC); PANDEF, Midwest Movement, the Niger Delta
Peoples Volunteer Force, (NDPVF), MEND, MASSOB, IPOB, others. In the
Middle-Belt, we have the Middle-Belt Forum, (MBF), MBC, SOKAPU,
CONAECDA and many others. Several notable Statesmen in Nigeria including
Generals Olusegun Obasanjo and Yakubu Gowon, both (former Heads of State)
have lent their voices to the urgent imperative of the Fundamental Reworking of
the Damaged Constitutional Basis of Nigeria, warning that any further delay may
lead to the catastrophic collapse of the Distressed Nigerian Union. Nigeria’s
Former Defence Minister, Lt.Gen Theophilus Danjuma, had also urged the
Indigenous Peoples of Nigeria facing the Ethnic Cleansing Onslaught of the
Murderous Fulani invaders to Defend themselves and their lands in the face of
obvious collusion of the Federal Government of Nigeria and its Armed Forces with
the Fulani invaders. In the aftermath of the October 2020 EndSARS Protests
many, including the Nigerian Christian Elders Forum (NCEF) now insist that
Nigeria needs to be Renegotiated.
(h) Between January and July of 2019, a Delegation of the Alliance Territories
engaged the International Community especially Stakeholder-Institutions in
Washington DC, to alert the US and the Global Community of the Degenerating
Security Situation in Nigeria where ISIS/ISWAP Terror Machinery made sweeping
inroads into Nigeria and the Lake Chad Basin with Nigeria as its Hub, with large-
scale Killings and Dislodgment of Christian Indigenous Populations mainly in the
Middle Belt and the South, encouraged by what seems a manifestly sympathetic
Federal Government of Nigeria and it’s Armed Forces, in circumstances that 4
Onslaught of the Murderous Fulani Militia against the Indigenous Peoples of
Nigeria, the MNN Alliance Mobilized the Peoples of the Alliance Territories under
the aegis of the Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination
to issue the Joint Multi-Regional FREEDOM PARK PROCLAMATION of
December 11, 2018 (https://bit.ly/3mkPFNv) by which the Alliance Territories
Rejected the conduct of further National Elections Mandated by the Repudiated
1999 Constitution and Demanded a Transitioning in place of the largely doomed
2019 National Elections, as a way of putting a time-frame to the Termination of
the Operation of the 1999 Constitution and the Distillation of Successor
Constitutional Protocols. The said FREEDOM PARK PROCLAMATION of
December 11, 2018 is hereby Adopted and Incorporated in support of this present
Proclamation..
(3) SPECIFIC CONSTITUTIONAL GRIEVANCES TOUCHING ON THE
SOVEREIGNTIES OF THE CONSTITUENT COMPONENTS OF THE
DISTRESSED FEDERATION OF NIGERIA WHICH ARE BEYOND THE
POWERS AND LEGISLATIVE MANDATE OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF
NIGERIA OR THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA TO
UNILATERALLY ADDRESS.
(I)The Claim in the Preamble to the 1999 Constitution that “We the People” Firmly
and Solemnly Resolved to live in One Political Union and that we Enacted and
Gave Ourselves the 1999 Constitution, is Self-Evidently False as the Decree No
24 of 1999 by which the so-called 1999 Constitution was Promulgated, outlined
step-by-step, the Process by which the author of the 1999 Constitution, Gen,
Abdusalam Abubakar and his Armed Forces Provisional Ruling Council, came
about the Document it labeled “the 1999 Constitution”. This is a Criminal
Usurpation of the Sovereignties of the Constituent Components whose Exclusive
Right it is to Make for Themselves the Constitution by which they will Federate
and Be Governed, as an incident of their Sovereignty. Even by the admission of
the 1999 Constitution at Section 14(2)(a), “Sovereignty Belongs to the People,
from whom, Government, through this Constitution Derive all its Powers and
Authority”. This is the Fountain from which all other Constitutional Grievances
Flow and there is no other REMEDY to this Particular Grievance than an
Autochthonous Process by which the Constituent Components will Submit their
Peoples and their Lands into a Union, and also Stipulate the Terms of that Union,
to be Ratified by Referendums and Plebiscites. (Ref: Decree No.24 as
Incorporated into the 1999 Constitution and the Preambular Text of the 1999
Constitution).
(II) A Federation is a Union of Constitutions and Nigeria became a Federation of
Three Largely Autonomous Regions at Independence in 1960 when those
Regions, each armed with its own Constitution, Agreed to Federate into One
Political Union after Series of Negotiations at Lancaster House in London between
1957 and 1959. The Midwestern Region became the 4th Region of Nigeria in 1963
from a Constitutional Process.
The 36 States and 774 Local Governments Structure unilaterally imposed by the
1999 Constitution fundamentally distorts the Pre-1966, Four-Region Federation,
especially the Power Relations between the “Federating Units” and the “Federal
Government”, which is supposed to be a creation of the Federating Units,
rendering the Nigerian Union a Unitary State away from the Federal Basis upon
which the Autonomous Regions of the Diverse Peoples of Nigeria agreed to
become one Political Union at Independence.
These imposed Structures also create artificial Permanent Political Majorities and
Permanent Political Minorities, irrespective of ground realities in terms of
Populations and other Key Indices with grave implications for Representation in
the Places of Decision-Making as well as Resource-Allocation, amongst other
debilitations. There is no other viable REMEDY for this particular Grievance than
reverting to a Negotiated Basis of Federating in Terms of Formations and
Preferences, Ratified by Referendums and Plebiscites. (Ref: First Schedule Part
1 of the1999 Constitution).
(III) The 68-Item Federal Exclusive Legislative List is the Mechanism by
which the illicit Federal Government of Nigeria Hijacked, Confiscated and
Sequestered the Key Economic Assets as well as the Most Important
Governmental Powers and Authority of the Federating Units. The
Federally Confiscated Assets include the Oil and Gas Assets; the Vast Maritime
Assets of the Coastal Territories; Solid Mineral including Iron Ore, Aluminum,
Coal, Limestone and wide range of Precious Metals and Stones.
The Federally Confiscated Powers include the Power to Generate and Transmit
Electricity; the Power to Operate a Police Service and other Services that might
require the Use of Arms; the Power to Build, Own or Operate Seaports, Airports,
Railways, Highways, et cetera.
Also Confiscated are the Powers over Banking, Insurance, Copyright, Patents,
Trade Marks, Pensions, Prisons, Posts, Company Incorporation, Marriages and
Elections into Federal and State Public Offices. The list continues. Some of
the worst consequences of this Federal Hijack and Confiscation of Powers and
Assets, was the seizure by the Federal Government, of Educational Institutions,
particularly the great Universities developed by the then Regions, which the
Federal Government thoroughly degraded over the years. The same was the case
with the Manufacturing concerns established by the Regions.
The implication of this Federal Exclusive Legislative List is that only the Federal
Government shall have Power and Control over all Items Listed while the
Federating Units are forbidden from undertaking anything coming under that List.
To make things worse, even the few undertakings permitted the already
emasculated States under the so-called Concurrent List, (30 Items) are expressly
subjugated to the overriding powers of the Federal Government such that any
conflicts between the Federal Government and the Government of a State in
respect of any matter on the Concurrent List, the interests of the Federal
Government will prevail.
More than any other single Cause, the Disastrous Consequences of this Over-
Centralization of Control over a large range of Subject Matters, has been at the
heart of Nigeria’s Arrested Development and total System Dysfunction especially
when viewed against the backdrop of the Rapid Socio-Economic Development In
the Pre-1966 Regions of Nigeria which Owned, Controlled and Worked their
Respective Economic Assets to the Benefit of their Own People. Exercised most
of the Powers now sequestered from them by the so-called Federal Government.
The Over-Centralization comes with hideous inefficiencies that have been the root
cause of the Culture of Corruption and Waste in Nigeria as Humongous Assets
and Funds are held in the hands of Federal Establishments that have no real
contact with the Developmental needs of the various Parts of Nigeria. Thus, we
are saddled with a situation in which People who have nothing to do with the
pressing needs of the true owners of the Assets and who are not in any way
accountable to these true owners (or anybody at all), carry on most wastefully as
Armed Robbers would do with their Loot, whether such Public Funds are
Proceeds from the Sale of Oil and Gas or From Customs Duties, Operation of
Ports, Company Taxes or VAT. Those who receive the Funds as “Allocations”
simply treat the Funds as their own share of the Loot called “Nigeria”. In all, the
entire system is designed to be resistant to Development.
The Various Agitations in Nigeria, from the Niger Delta Resource-Control
Agitation, to the Yoruba OPC and AMOTEKUN that seek Control over Yoruba
Internal Security, to the Biafra Agitation by those in Eastern Nigeria who are so
completely frustrated by the Inequitable and Unworkable Nigerian Unitary Union,
that they seek outright exit from the Union, are caused by the 68-Item Federal
Exclusive Legislative List. That Nigeria is without Electricity, or any meaningful
Infrastructure, is on account of this Federal Exclusive Legislative List. That Nigeria
has become the Poverty Capital of the World is due mainly to the Exclusive
List. The Broken Down Security Situation in Nigeria is also largely due to this same
Exclusive List.
The REMEDY to this Particular Constitutional Grievance, is to Dismantle the
Exclusive List Completely, Restore the Sovereign Powers of the Constituent
Components which may in turn, Cede to the Center, only such Powers as they
freely wish, in unfettered Self-Determination as dictated by the Concept of
Federalism. (Ref: Second Schedule Part-1 of the 1999 Constitution).
(IV) Aggravation of Existing Constitutional Grievances And Extraordinary
Urgency For Remedial Action:
Amidst Trenchant Demands by the Peoples of the South and Middle-Belt, for the
Fundamental Reconfiguration of Nigeria’s Unitary Constitutional Order to Address
the Dysfunctional System under which Security and Infrastructure had completely
broken Down in Nigeria, the ferocious Ethnic Cleansing Onslaught by the Fulani
Militia masquerading as “Herdsmen” commenced throughout Southern and
Middle-Belt Nigeria, upon the emergence of Major-General Muhammadu Buhari,
in 2015, as the President of Nigeria, compounding the Boko-Haram Insurgency
and Terror Campaign that was already ravaging the North-East of
Nigeria especially the Christian Communities.
Concerning the rapidly worsening Security Situation in Nigeria, particularly in the
Southern and Middle-Belt Territories as well as the glaring complicity of the
Federal Government of Nigeria, in circumstances that progressively validate the
charge of outright collusion with the Murderous Fulani Militia, it is pertinent to point
out the following:
(a) That as President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria,
Muhammadu Buhari, (a Fulani himself and a Life Grand Patron of the Fulani Cattle
Breeders Association MACBAN) had asked the Governor of Benue State, Samuel
Ortom, who had come to seek the Federal Government’s Intervention on the
Invasion of Benue State by Fulani “Herdsmen”, to go home and get his People to
live in peace with the Murderous Fulani “Herdsmen” who Buhari described as “the
Fulani of Benue”.
(b) Nigeria’s Defence Minister under President Buhari had declared that the
Developments blocking what he described as “ancient Cow Grazing Routes”,
must be removed or the Cows and the “Herdsmen” will bulldoze their way
through the Developments.
(c) The Inspector-General of Police under President Buhari declared that the
States which passed and enforced Anti-Open Grazing Laws were responsible for
the Violence being unleashed by the Fulani Herdsmen and that UNLESS those
Laws were repealed, the situation could only get worse.
(d) Amidst the agonizing cry of the Peoples of the Middle-Belt and the South
regarding the Invasion their Communities by Murderous Fulani Militia, the
Spokesman of President Buhari, Femi Adesina, advised the distressed and
endangered Communities that it would be better to give up their Lands to the
Fulani IN ORDER to Save their Lives.
(e) Under the watch of President Buhari and at the outset of the post-2015
escalation of the Fulani “Herdsmen” Killings in Southern Kaduna, the Governor of
Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai had announced how he went to 14 different
Countries to appease the Fulani who come from those Countries to kill in Southern
Kaduna. This appeasement measure, according to El-Rufai, included the payment
of N100 Million from the Public Purse of Kaduna State to the invading murderous
Fulani Militia.
(f) Under the watch of President Buhari, a strange practice was introduced, in
which captured fighters of Boko Haram and other Terror Groups, are freed by the
Federal Government of Nigeria, which declares them “Repentant” and actually
absorbs them into the Nigerian Military..
(g) The recent Unilateral Declaration by President Buhari, that Africans from all
parts of Africa, are free to enter Nigeria without Visa, and the consequent influx of
Fulani into Nigeria, (who are being openly aided by the Federal Government of 9
Nigeria, to take over vast Lands from the Indigenous Communities), has
exacerbated the undisguised Ethnic Cleansing by the invading Fulani, (whom the
Governor of Bauchi State recently declared as being all Nigerians, wherever they
are in Africa) on a scale that totally compromise the Sovereignty of Nigeria and
therefore that of all of the Constituent Components of Nigeria particularly, the
South and Middle-Belt. The massive influx of dangerous-looking Fulani migrants
into Southern Nigeria during the Federal Government imposed Covid-19
Lockdown is a pointer to the malevolent motives of the Fulani. In the first week of
August, 2020, the US raised alarm about an impending invasion of Nigeria by both
Al-Qaeda and ISIS from Nigeria’s North-West.
To further compromise our Sovereignty, Chinese Loans being recklessly
contracted by the Federal Government of Nigeria contain clauses that cede
Nigeria’s Sovereignty to China in the event of default.
Reckoning Aggravations (a)-(g) above, the Peoples of South and Middle-Belt of
Nigeria are now in the horrific realization and apprehension that the Fulani-
Controlled Federal Government of Nigeria, under the superintendence of a Fulani
President, Muhammadu Buhari, could actually be behind the well orchestrated
Ethnic Cleansing Campaign being unleashed against the Indigenous Nationalities
of Nigeria by the Fulani Invading Nigeria from all sides.
In the face of the Sharia embraced by our Compatriots in the Far North of Nigeria
in a supposedly Secular Federation, the Clear Existential Threat to the Peoples
of Southern and Middle Belt Nigeria represented by the aforementioned Jihad-
Style Fulani Militia Onslaught, brings a new urgency to the Grave Constitutional
Grievances that had been consistently raised by the Peoples of Southern and
Middle Belt Nigeria in the course of the last five decades, bordering on the
Sovereignties of the Constituent Components of Nigeria which has now been
completely hijacked, suppressed and subjugated by the illicit Federal Government
of Nigeria which has become a Suzerain Power controlled Exclusively by the
Fulani.
ACCORDINGLY, WE THE UNDERSIGNED,
BEING Accredited Representatives of the Indigenous Nationalities of Nigeria’s
Southern and Middle-Belt Territories, hereinafter called “the Alliance Territories”,
(Constituting over 75% of the Population of Nigeria), on behalf of the Peoples of
the Alliance Territories, and in Invocation of the Universal Rights appurtenant to
our Sovereignties as Indigenous Peoples of the Distressed Nigerian Federation,
including the Right To Self-Determination as enshrined in the United Nations
Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, 2007 as well as the United
Nations Charter On Human Rights;
HAVING exhausted every Democratic, People-Driven Process in seeking an
orderly redress for the aforementioned Grave Constitutional Grievances
emanating from the Unilateral Imposition of a Unitary Constitutional Order on our 10
supposed Federal Union by a Section of Nigeria that has also Imposed Sharia in
their own Part of our supposed Secular Union;
AND NOW in circumstances that has become an extraordinary emergency for our
Peoples, being confronted by the Clear and Present danger of Extermination in
the hands of our supposed Compatriots in the Union of Nigeria who are Pursuing
an Ethnic Cleansing Campaign against the Indigenous Nationalities of Nigeria
HEREBY DECLARE A SOVEREIGNTY DISPUTE with the Federation of Nigeria
as represented by Federal Government of Nigeria, on account of our Repudiation
and Rejection of the Imposed 1999 Constitution of Nigeria whose authorship was
Fraudulently imputed to us by the Preamble to that Constitution in its False Claim
that “We the People”, Made, Enacted and Gave To Ourselves the said 1999
Constitution, with a further lie in that same Preamble, that we had Firmly and
Solemnly Resolved to submit Our Peoples and Our Lands into the Union of
Nigeria.
FURTHERMORE, IN INVOCATION OF OUR LONG-SUPPRESSED
COLLECTIVE SOVEREIGNTIES WE HEREBY PROCLAIM A
CONSTITUTIONAL FORCE MAJEURE effective from the Midnight of the
…….Day of… ………..2020, with a 90-Day NOTICE to the Government of the
Federation of Nigeria, the Security Council of the United Nations, the Government
of the United States of America, the European Union as well as the International
Community, of the Intention of the Peoples of the Alliance Territories to reconsider
our Continued Allegiance to the Disputed 1999 Constitution as well as the Unitary
Union of Death, Attrition and Backwardness it foists on us.
FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE AND TO AVOID ANARCHY, IT IS OUR DEMAND
THAT IN THE 90-DAY PERIOD OF THIS NOTICE, THE FOLLOWING SPECIFIC
ACTIONS MUST BE TAKEN BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA
TO FIRMLY SET IN MOTION, AN IRREVERSIBLE PROCESS BY WHICH THE
AFOREMENTIONED GRAVE CONSTITUTIONAL GRIEVANCES WOULD BE
ADDRESSED:
(A) A Formal Announcement by the Federal Government of Nigeria
acknowledging the Constitutional Grievances and Sovereignty Dispute now
Declared by the Peoples of South and Middle-Belt of Nigeria.
(B) A Formal Commitment by Federal Government of Nigeria to the wholesale
Decommissioning and Jettisoning of the 1999 Constitution as the Basis of the
Federation of Nigeria as was done by the Government of Apartheid-Era South
Africa in 1990, to commence the process by which the Apartheid Constitution of
the then South Africa was eased out.
(C) A Formal Announcement by the Federal Government of Nigeria suspending
further General Elections under the Disputed 1999 Constitution since winners of
such Elections will Swear to, and Govern by that Constitution.
(D) A Formal Initiation of a Time-Bound Transitioning Process to midwife the
emergence of Fresh Constitutional Protocols by a Two-Stage Process in which
the Constituent Regional Blocs will at the first stage, Distill and Ratify their various
Constitutions by Referendums and Plebiscites and in the second stage, Negotiate
the Terms of Federating afresh as may be dictated by the outcomes of
Referendum and Plebiscites.
(E) A Formal Invitation to the Peoples of the South and Middle-Belt of Nigeria to
work out and emplace a Transitional Authority, which shall specify the Modalities
for the Transitioning Process including the Composition and Mandate of the
Transitional Authority a well as the Time-frame for the Transitioning and other
Ancillary Matters.
BY THIS PROCLAMATION, Let it be known to ALL, including International Money
Lenders, that Nigeria is now a Disputed Project and that while the Constituent
Components commit to honouring existing International Debt Obligations,
WE CAUTION that whatever Obligations that may arise from any Foreign Loans
contracted by the Federal Government of Nigeria from the date of this
Proclamation may come into controversy. Similarly, all Loans contracted by the
Federal Government of Nigeria, containing any Clause that may Cede the
Sovereignty of Nigeria or any part thereof in the event of Repayment Default shall
be disputed as illicit, and in breach of the Sovereignty of the Federating Units.
We also invite Politicians from the Alliance Territories and all Political Parties
Operating in the Alliance Territories, to TAKE NOTICE, that the 1999 Constitution
by which the winner of any National Elections in Nigeria will Swear, and Govern,
is the very Object of the Sovereignty Dispute We Have just Proclaimed, with a
Demand that Further National Elections premised upon that Repudiated
Constitution, be Deferred Forthwith, for the purpose of first Reworking the
Damaged Constitutional Basis of Nigeria. It is therefore our Expectation that you
will stand with the People you Claim or Seek to Serve as Politicians or Political
Parties in their current resolve to Wind up the Operation of the 1999 Constitution
and Extinguish the source of their Misery. If instead of standing with your People,
you choose to go to another round of General Elections in 2023 under that
Constitution, it will simply mean that you are a part of the enemy-imposed
Mechanism for Inflicting Death, Misery and Impoverishment upon your own
People, for no other reason than Personal Gain.
The Signatories to this Proclamation commit themselves to providing a Detailed Proposition for Undertaking this Fundamental Reconfiguration of the Damaged Constitutional Basis of Nigeria.
In this regard, the Signatories Adopt and Incorporate the MNN Alliance’s November 16, 2018
OPEN MEMORANDUM TO PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON THE RESTRUCTURING DEBATE, (click this link https://bit.ly/2ILKjNs for the full text and was also reported by Guardian
of Nov 18, 2018) as an outline of our Prescriptions.
ISSUED THIS 16th DAY OF December 2020,
Appendix A
SIGNATORIES TO THE NOTICE OF CONSTITUTIONAL GRIEVANCES, DECLARATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL FORCE MAJEURE AND DEMAND FOR TRANSITIONING PROCESS FOR AN ORDERLY RECONFIGURATION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA. (Being the Joint Proclamation of a Sovereignty Dispute by Accredited Delegates of Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities of the Southern and Middle Belt
Territories of Nigeria, Issued the 16th Day of December 2020 in Lagos), under the title CORRECTING THE MISTAKE OF 1914
WESTERN NIGERIA (YORUBALAND)
S/No. NAME (ORGANIZATION OR GROUP OPTIONAL)
1 Prof. Adebanji Akintoye.
2 Mrs Julia O Akintoye
3 Otunba Shade Olukoya
4 Aare (Dr) Kunle Oshodi
5 George O Akinola
6 Bashorun Kunle Adesokan
7 Comrade Bunmi Abidogun
8 Professor Adewale Adeniran
9 Dr Akin Adejuwon
10 Mrs Shola Salako
11 Asiwaju Olu Mayungbe
12 Omokehinde A.Mayungbe
13 Prof Ade Kukoyi
14 Paul O. Bankole
15 Mrs. Dupe Ajayi- Gbadebo
16 Ademola Akintoye
17 Michael Awe
18 Bola Bolawole
19 Dr. Rotimi Olokodana
20 Feyisola Oluwemimo Okupe
21 Olurotimi Ajibowo
22 Dr. Adewole Banji
23 Toluwalase Adesina
24 Maxwell Adeleye
25 Praise Ayodele
26 Iyanda Wasiu Abiodun
27 Opeoluwa Elisha Ademoyegun
28 Makanjuola Adigun
29 Ajani Oluwafemi
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
13
Appendix B
SIGNATORIES TO THE NOTICE OF CONSTITUTIONAL GRIEVANCES, DECLARATION OF
CONSTITUTIONAL FORCE MAJEURE AND DEMAND FOR TRANSITIONING PROCESS
FOR AN ORDERLY RECONFIGURATION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS OF THE
FEDERATION OF NIGERIA. (Being the Joint Proclamation of a Sovereignty Dispute by
Accredited Delegates of Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities of the Southern and Middle Belt
Territories of Nigeria, Issued the 16th Day of December 2020 in Lagos), under the title
CORRECTING THE MISTAKE OF 1914
THE MIDDLE-BELTOF NIGERIA
S/No. NAME (ORGANIZATION OR GROUP
OPTIONAL)
1 Prof. Yusufu Turaki 39 CP Iorbee Ihagh (Retd)
2 Air Commodore Jonah Jang, Rtd 40 HRH Chf Daniel Abontse Ter Tyoshin
3 Dr Bitrus Pogu 41 Prof Amstrong Matie Adejor
4 Eng.Abdullahi Tanko 42 Terhemba Timothy
5 Hajia Amina Mohammed 43 Adah Anthony Adah
6 Nuhu Ibrahim 44 Leonard Nzadon Esq
7 Dr Isuwa Dogo 45 Yusuf Amos Sunday
8 HE, Dr Shem Zagbayi 46 Binanu Esthon Esq
9 Mrs Debra Ogazuma 47 Panny Yunusa Boga
10 Mr Emmanuel Alamu 48 Dr Francis Zira
11 Mrs Elizabeth Jibrin
12 Eng. Ben Akarka
13 Mr Adakole Ijogi
14 Dr Emmanuel Onucheyo
15 Abah Ejembi ESQ
16 Mrs Ene Ede
17 Bishop Habu Dawaki
18 Alex Maramma ESQ
19 Mr Benjamin S. Ashu
20 Mr Bah Abubakar
21 Mark Jacob ESQ
22 Mr Simon Reef
23 Mr Lanre Obafemi
24 Justin Chuwang ESQ
25 Leonard Nzadon ESQ
26 Hon Jonathan Asake
27 Mr Musa Jekeko
28 Rev. James Pam
29 Dr. Luka Mailumo
30 Mr. Dan Aaron
31 Dr Zahu Bonat
32 Dr Yusuf Sunday
33 Dara Dudu
34 Prof Zack Gundu
35 Amb Emmanuel Njiwah
36 Prof Terdoo Kpelai
37 Dr Qrisstuberg Amuwa
38 Chief Nguto Anyiam
Appendix C
SIGNATORIES TO THE NOTICE OF CONSTITUTIONAL GRIEVANCES, DECLARATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL FORCE MAJEURE AND DEMAND FOR TRANSITIONING PROCESS FOR AN ORDERLY RECONFIGURATION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA. (Being the Joint Proclamation of a Sovereignty Dispute by Accredited Delegates of Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities of the Southern and Middle Belt Territories of Nigeria, Issued the 16th Day of December 2020 in Lagos), under the title CORRECTING THE MISTAKE OF 1914
SOUTH-SOUTH (THE LOWER NIGER)
S/No. NAME (ORGANIZATION OR GROUP OPTIONAL)
1 Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (Retd)
2 Senator Aniete Okon
3 Fred Agbeyegbe
4 T K Ogoriba
5 Marshal Kunoun
6 Amb Godknows Boladei Igali
7 Isi Momodu
8 Donald Ekpo
9 Mathew Dighi
10 Imoh Stephen Okoko
11 Okeyim Cosmas
12 Peter Olofu
13 Kelly Efemana Umukoro
14 Pastor Samuel Igiri
15 Rear-Admiral W Geoffrey Yange
16 Chief Dan Ebierein Ekpebide
17 Mike Oka
18 Prince Ihunwo
19 Jerry Okolo
20 Chief Kalaiti Jephthah Obadiah 1
21 Prince Tonye Jeminimiema
22 Davies Igiri
23 Kennedy Tonjo West
24 Ibingha Joseph Philip
25 George Oboh
26 Peter Aihiokhai
27 Harrison Imide
28 Lucky Agie
29 Sylvester Oyekpen
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
15
Appendix D
SIGNATORIES TO THE NOTICE OF CONSTITUTIONAL GRIEVANCES, DECLARATION OF CONSTITUTIONAL FORCE MAJEURE AND DEMAND FOR TRANSITIONING PROCESS FOR AN ORDERLY RECONFIGURATION OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL BASIS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA. (Being the Joint Proclamation of a Sovereignty Dispute by Accredited Delegates of Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities of the Southern and Middle Belt Territories of Nigeria, Issued the 16th Day of December 2020 in Lagos), under the title CORRECTING THE MISTAKE OF 1914
IGBO (THE LOWER NIGER)
S/No. NAME (ORGANIZATION OR GROUP OPTIONAL)
1. Chief Nnia Nwodo
2. Prof Chidi Osuagwu
3. Commodore Ebitu Ukiwe (Retd)
4. Chike Odunukwe
5. Richard Obilo
6. Mrs Patience Oruh
7. Ogbo Awoke Ogbo
8. Dr Okenwa Nwosu
9. Dr Clifford Iroanya
10. Dr Emeka Onyebuchi
11. Okechukwu Orji
12. Mark Olise
13. Tony Nnadi
14. Dr Patience E. Simon-Okube
15. Mrs Munachimsoaga Okpala
16. Dr Augusta Uloma Anosike
17. Dr C J Odunukwe
18. Dr Amuzie Eronini
19. Chioma Uche
20. Uche C Njoku, Esq
21. Chinedu Achunine
22. Oscar Onwudiwe
23. Uju Lilian Modi
24. Ndidi Uwechue
25. Johnny Nosike
26. Igwe Peter U
27. Apostle Newman O Nwokoro
28. Apostle Fracis A Ezeiru
29. Benson A Ezeobi
30. Uchenna Nnadi
31 Nnenna Nwanna
32. Obi Manafa
33. Josephine Osakwe
34. Kally Albert
35. Dr Ngozi Oleru
36. Chudi Nwafor
37. Jude Odimegwu
38.
39.
40.
How 400 Obigbo Residents Or More Were Abducted By Soldiers & Transported To Secret Military Dungeons In The North, 52 Rescued In Niger State, 3 Tortured To Death & 150 Languishing In Abacha Barracks(Abuja),Etc
Intersociety, Onitsha-Eastern Nigeria
Tuesday, 22nd Dec 2020
Decree 2 Is Back
The International Freedom of Exchange had referred to Nigeria’s Military Decree 2 of 1984 “as the Nigerian State Security (Detention of Persons) Decree No. 2 of 1984, which allows for indefinite and incommunicado detention of Nigerian citizens without trial”. From every indication, this infamous and anti democratic military law is back and put in clandestine practice in Nigeria under the present central Government and this time around is being used by the country’s heavily Muslim dominated and controlled Nigerian Army to target on religious and tribal grounds citizens of old Eastern and Mid Western Nigeria particularly the Igbo citizens of Judeo-Christian faith.
Nigerian Army Abducted 400 Obigbo Residents Or More
The Int’l Society for Civil Liberties & Rule of Law (Intersociety) is shocked to note that the number of Obigbo residents, all Christians and mostly Igbo citizens, abducted and disappeared by the Nigerian Army, has risen to 400 or more; out of which, 150 have been discovered to be held indefinitely and incommunicado without Court trial in different secret Army and Spy Police dungeons located in the Federal Capital Territory or Abuja.
In our latest finding, 52 defenseless Obigbo residents, all Judeo-Christian Igbos were recently rescued and their release secured through three different Courts and four processes in Niger State. The 52 rescued abductees exclude three that died from torture in soldiers’ captivity. While one died on the road during their secret and night long transportation from Obigbo-to-Obinze (Army Barracks)-Abuja two others died in secret Army detention custodies in Niger State. It was further discovered that most of the abductees were transported by road while others including elderly ones among them were airlifted through the local wing of the Port Harcourt Int’l Air Port in Rivers State and the Sam Mbakwe Air Port in Imo State.
Corroboratively, Intersociety had back in Sept 2020, been told or received some independent reports that ‘dozens of citizens of Igbo Christian extraction were being held secretly and outside the law in places like Gusau Prisons located in Zamfara State. They are defenseless and unarmed citizens vindictively arrested across various States in old Eastern and Mid Western Nigeria, labeled “IPOB terrorists” and secretly transferred to far away Zamfara State, etc where they are secretly being held without trial.
Army Now Abducts & Transfers To Prisons
One major attribute of the dreaded Decree 2 now being used clandestinely by the Lt Gen Buratai led Nigerian Army is the extrajudicial transfer and incarceration of citizens abducted by Army at Prison facilities without recourse to Court orders or remands. In other words, citizens abducted by soldiers are now sent directly to Prisons from military custodies on orders of the Army High Commands including the COAS or the C-in-C. This is one of the dreaded features of the obnoxious Decree 2 now in clandestine practice in the country.
Some Magistrates Now Sign Detention Orders For Army Outside Courtroom
The military authorities, too, now get some Magistrates to sign detention orders for them outside the Courtroom and due processes. The above was the case in the case of the 52 rescued Obigbo residents and three others that died in Army captivity in Niger State as well as 150 others presently languishing without trial in Army and Spy Police dungeons in Abuja. It is also forbidden by the country’s criminal justice system for citizens to be arrested and detained and tried outside the areas where they are alleged to have committed the offenses for which they were arrested. Intersociety, it is recalled, had in its last statement, disclosed that ‘between 200 and 300 Obigbo residents were abducted by soldiers and detained in secret military detention facilities located within and outside Rivers State’. New findings, however, now indicate that 400 of them or more were abducted.
Obigbo Army/Wike Massacre: The Background
The Army massacre in Obigbo, Rivers State, a densely Igbo populated area, occurred following killings and property destructions associated with Oct 2020 country-wide protests by aggrieved citizens against atrocious conducts of the dreaded Special Anti Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force, now renamed “SWAT”. In the killings and property destructions that followed, over 350 citizens including civilians, soldiers and police personnel were killed and properties worth billions of naira burnt or destroyed. Lagos State where over 70 persons were killed and properties worth billions lost, was the hardest hit.
The ‘End SARS’ protests took violent dimension on 20th Oct, followed clandestine recruitment and sponsorship of Islamic hoodlums by Government of Nigeria to counter the protests, attack the protesters (leading to killing of scores of peaceful protesters and burning or destruction of properties belonging to them and neutral others) and make same look like “all Southern Christian affair”. This remotely introduced reprisal violence into the protests which was further aggravated by Army killings at Lekki Tollgate in Lagos State in the late evening of 20th Oct 2020.
In Rivers State, Gov Nyesom Wike took the sad incident personal and decided to use same for political reasons. He not only incited security agencies including Police and Army against Igbo residents in Obigbo and environs but also politicized it and labeled the unfortunate killing of some soldiers and police personnel in Obigbo as ‘terrorist acts perpetrated by IPOB’; a leading self determination group agitating for regional self governance for the people of old Eastern and Mid Western Nigeria. IPOB, a nonviolent movement, was vindictively proscribed in Sept 2017 by the Northern Muslim led Government of Nigeria. This was chiefly to heighten its violent crackdown on same and cover traces of its involvement in the killing of over 180 Igbo citizens and over 130 maimed in same Sept 2017 in Abia State.
Gov Nyesom Wike’s politicization of the EndSARS violent protests in Obigbo and other parts of the State came against the background of the fact that soldiers and police personnel and over 300 civilians were killed across the country during the period, particularly in Lagos, Abia, and Enugu and Northern Nigeria. In other words, the killing of soldiers and police personnel during the period though despicable and condemnable, was not restricted to Obigbo but also the case across the country. In utter furtherance of the politicization of the sad incident, the Rivers Gov on 21st Oct 2020 declared curfew in Obigbo and environs and invited Nigerian Army to ‘flush out IPOB terrorists in the area who killed six soldiers and four police personnel and burnt police stations’. In response, the Army let loose and went on unspeakable war-grade invasion and massacre mission, killing almost 100, injuring 110, abducting 400 or more, disappearing scores without traces till date, torturing hundreds and burning down houses and destroying properties.
Obigbo Army Abductions: The Summary
By the accounts given by Barr Richard Ebuka Okoroafor, an int’l human rights lawyer and Igbo-UK Citizen and some of the survivors; the 400 abductees including the rescued 52 and 150 presently languishing in various Army detention facilities in Abuja, were abducted between late Oct and early Nov 2020 in different parts of Obigbo in Rivers State. Some were abducted in the morning and evening time while leaving for or returning from work. There are those abducted on their way to watch football matches or play same, or on their way to attend functions such as weddings, or on their way to meet their contractual obligations or buy food items, or while hawking such as selling sachet water or biscuits. Others were abducted in their sleep or at relaxation joints in the hours of the blue law, etc.
As exclusively reported by Sahara Reporters, some were moved at late hours of the night by air to their present dungeons in the North while the rest were transported by land at night. Before being bundled to the North, most of them were assembled and detained at Elele Army Battalion in Rivers State, 144 Battalion at Ukwa in Abia State and 34 Brigade, Obinze in Owerri, Imo State from where they were held for days amidst torture before being moved secretly to their present dungeons in the North. All the abductees were accused and are still accused of being “terrorists” and were tortured severely to admit being so, leading to death of three in custody and many others being traumatized. At arrival in Niger State, the 54 abductees including the two that later died were spread and held secretly in clusters and detained in over four secret Army detention facilities in the State including Kontagora, Bida, Zungeru and Jebba.
Suspicion was also rife that but for the exclusive report run by Sahara Reporters on 24th Nov 2020 and timely efforts of Barr Richard Ebuka Okoroafor and leaders of IPOB as well as some human rights bodies contacted, the abductees would have met their waterloo in captivity. As disclosed by court documents seen and verified by Intersociety, the first bail was granted by a Magistrate Court sitting in Minna, presided over by a Grade 11 Magistrate to first four abducted Igbo citizens (Jude Nwachukwu, Chibuzor Ebere, Obi Uche and Michael Uzoma), followed by another bail granted to second batch involving twelve abducted citizens (Gilbert Ibe, Ibe Emmanuel, Sunday, Paul (Okada Boy), Nwachineke Moses, Chukwu Nwodo, Power Peter, Ifeanyi Alozie, Okeke Bill, Mazi Ibeneme, Okpara Chigozie, Obnna and Chika). Their bail was granted by Hon Justice Aminu Bappa Aliyu of the Federal High Court, Minna, Niger State on 10th Dec 2020.
The third bail was granted by the same Federal High Court sitting in Minna on same 10th Dec 2020 by the same Judge. The bail was granted to ten abducted citizens (Chibuchi Adam, Aloysius Obinna, Oluchukwu Emma, Andrew Ichim, Ogochukwu Abel, Tobechukwu, Wisdom Okpara, Bright, Cornelius, Igwe Obinna, Monday Emeka, Paschal and Mr. Oyim). The fourth bail was granted on 3rd Dec 2020 by Hon Justice Hajiya Maryam Mahmoud of the Niger State High Court, to the remaining 26 abductees and among them are: Obinna Nwoke, Emeka Ibeana, Uchenna Ibeana, Nnowi Ifeanyi, Mbanefo Simeon (57 years old), Aloysius Mgbedike, Cletus Nnamdi, Onyema Fortune, Benjamin Andrew, Ebuka Ayota, Robbison Igwe, Igweze Ndubike, Ifeanyi Uwakwe, Emmy Simon, Malachy Umeh, Opara Uchenna, Opara Isaac, Richard Igwe, Obiekwe Uzoma, Joseph Ibe, Paul Ashiegbu and Amechi Ugo.
All the 52 abductees granted bail were accused by their captors of “involvement in terrorism, arson, destruction of properties and breach of public peace”. Their bails were granted in accordance with Section 169 of the Administration of Criminal Law of Niger State and Sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution.
Three Dead Abductees In The Army Captivity
Okechukwu Anyanwu (in his 30s), Kingsley Iwuagwu (in his 30s) and Chijioke (in his 20s)
Six Survivors Interviewed In Owerri
The following survivors, interviewed by Intersociety in Owerri on Friday, 18th Dec 2020 have these to say:
(1)Ifeanyi Emmanuel, 28 years old. He is a building designer/bricks layer and hails from Osisioma LGA in Abia State. He was abducted by soldiers at Obigbo West close to Obigbo Market on 8th Nov and labeled “terrorist”. He was on his way to honor his contractual obligation valued at N1.6m. (2) Miracle Movement (not his real name). He is 20 years old and hails from Owerri North LGA, Imo State. He works as salesman at Ekeson Increase Materials Investment, Obigbo and was abducted by soldiers on 8th Nov 2020 at East Market, Obigbo.
(3) Lord Billabond (not his real name). He is 25 years old, from Ahiazu-Mbaise LGA, Imo State. He is a bricks layer/builder and was abducted by soldiers on 8th Nov along Afam Road Junction, near Obigbo Market. (4) Emmanuel Njoku, 18 years old JAMBITE and sachet water seller/hawker. He is from Aboh-Mbaise LGA in Imo State and was abducted by soldiers on 8th Nov 2020 at Obigbo Market. (5)Anuisem Emeka, 27 years old. He hails from Ahiazu-Mbaise LGA, Imo State. He is a bricks layer and was abducted by soldiers on 8th Nov 2020 along Imo Street, Obigbo (boundary between Obigbo and Abia State). (6) George Ekechukwu, 19 years old and a hair-cut apprentice. He is from Aboh-Mbaise LGA, Imo State and was abducted by soldiers on 8th Nov 2020 in Obigbo.
Names Of 111 Of The Over 150 Abducted Obigbo Residents
The names below, verified by Intersociety, are among the 150 Obigbo residents, abducted by soldiers since late Oct and early Nov 2020. It has been independently confirmed that most of them are presently held in the Nigerian Army’s Abacha Barracks. Some are said to be held at Spy Police or SSS facilities in Abuja. Undisclosed large numbers, likely in their hundreds, are also strongly believed to be held in secret military locations in other parts of Northern Nigeria and some are reportedly camouflaged as ‘white clothed new intakes’ in some military training centers in the North including the Federal Capital Territory. Among them are at least ten women and husbands and wives including those with young children. The husbands and wives among the abductees were abducted together while going about their lawful businesses and other legitimate social activities and have been held incommunicado for two months.
Their names are: Ogoke Iheme, Ikenna Opara, Ambrose Ume, Mike Uzodinma, Emma Felix, Ositadinna Aboy, Ugbouku Asisi, Wisdom Chibuike, Wisdom Emeka, Austin Mba, .Ejike Somto, Chukwu Emmanuel, Dike Mgbonu, Okeosisi Phillip, Oliver Badmus, Okechukwu Ekechukwu, Pius Vincent, Boniface Okafor, Mbadiwe Godwin, Sima Man, Joseph Nwaaba, Mr. P, Omenne Happy, Eze Imo, Gozie Oliver, Nwamadi Monday, Izunne Gilbert, Nwabueze Chineyeze, Favour Uchenna, Ego Samuel, Ibenwolu Faith, Abel Daniel, Young Winner, Pepper White, Freedom Kekeboy, Obinna Ekechukwu, Adonai Uwakwe, Celestine Uwakwe, Arinze Water, One Man, Onyenma Amaechi, Chukwunonso Andrew, Chikwado Hossana, Ndubuisi Officer, Samuel Jaja, Okoli Kanayo, Kosisochukwu Ojiako, Miracle Ojiako, Uzoma Ojiako, Titus Emeka, .Goodness Nwagbaraukwu, Victor Ajogwu, Mathias Onidoma, Okechukwu Raphael, Rapael Obinna Asadu, Osmond Osita Mamah, Kevin Ubaka Ugwu, Chukwudubem Ezeh, Ozioma Kosalu Udeh, Simon Ngwu Ezeh, Onyebuchi Emeje, Mmadukwe Helen Nwanyi, Patrick Anayochukwu, Ezeugwu Uchenna, Okwor Timothy Chima, Julia C. Chukwudi-Okoro, Ogbo Godwin Omale, Ernest Ugochukwu, Linus Sunday Okoro and Sabastine Asogwa.
The rest are: Livinus Onyebuchi Ojobor, Innocent Ugwueke, Simon Akunna Amadi, Elizabeth Nnaji, Maduabuchi Josiah Eze, Ebere, Promise Okpe, Omeje, Christopher Peter, Promise Ijeoma Eze, Appolonia U. Agbo, Ugwu Anthony Okechi, Cosmas Ugwu, Benedict Ezegwu, Nelson Attamah, Michael Ugwuanyi, Godwin Ezeugwu Attamah, Emmanuel Attamah, Obinna Orji Godwin, Chukwuemeka Omeh, Linus Ukoro Eze Martin, Oluchukwu Ugwoke, Eze George Okwudili, Geoffrey Ugwuoke, Nwodo Emmanuel, Ogbonnaya, Mamah Remigus, Odinaka, Ben Chukwuemeka, Oloko, Nnama Celestine, Chinwe, Desmond Onyebuchi Ezeme, Charles Ugwu, Chinwe C. Nestor-Ezeme, Ezeme Nestor-Ezeme Chika, Nkem Faithful Makata, Eze Ikechukwu, Gerald Ugochukwu Abonyi, Odo Kyrian Obiora, Ezeugwu Paul Ikechukwu, Odo Michael Ifeanyi and Sunday Aneke. Most of these defenseless Igbo citizens are also found to have their States of origin drawn majorly from Abia, Imo and Enugu States.
COAS Buratai & Nigerian Government Are Breeding Another Intractable Insurgency
It is on record that Intersociety has consistently warned the present central Government of Nigeria since 2015 that it is breeding more insurgencies by its violent crackdowns and unleashing of state violence and weaponry against Igbo population; a nation-state with links to over 80 countries of the world including super powers and western democracies. The excessive use of state violence against Igbos in particular and others in general is capable of turning the country into situation that can be worst than Somalia and Rwanda; with calamitous humanitarian consequences.
Nigerian Army Must Release The Remaining 348 Abductees & Account For Three Dead Ones
The Nigerian Army and the Government of Nigeria must, as a matter of extreme urgency, release the remaining 348 Obigbo abductees including 150 presently being held incommunicado since two months in Abuja and secret military and spy police detention facilities in other parts of the North. The Army must also account for the death of three abductees (late Citizens Kingsley Iwuagwu, Okechukwu Anyanwu and Chijioke). The UN, EU, US, UK, Canada and others are hereby called upon to prevail on the Nigerian authorities to retrace its steps before it plunges the country into crises of unquenchable proportion.
Emeka Umeagbalasi, Board Chair, Barr Chinwe Umeche, Head of Democracy & Good Governance, Barr Obianuju Igboeli, Head of Civil Liberties & Rule of Law, Barr Ndidiamaka Bernard, Head of Int’l Justice & Human Rights and Comrade
In my 12 years participation in Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC) before I became the president, I saw an organization that belong to Ndigbo but it doesn’t serve the Interest of Ndigbo. I took a decisions that I must be the president to change the Narrative.
I discovered that the organization was existing on radio and pages of news papers including in the pocket of few youths who held it as their personal affair.
I was among those who complained about the activities of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and Igbo political office holders at large. But at a time I developed a thick-Skin and a philosophy of life that the best way to stop a reckless driver who refused to take correction and drive carefully to save the lives of the passengers is to go and learn how to drive and kick the reckless driver out of the Steering. As i developed a thick-skin, i passionately joined Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC) with target to reform it and also reform Ohanaeze Ndigbo that was in control of few unpatriotic rulers and political profiteers.
This is exactly what i did at last National Convention of Ohanaeze Youth Council OYC held at Enugu and i emerged as the 4th National president of the Council.
I want to inform you today that any patriotic progressive Igbo youth reading this now are among the leaders we look up to that will impact on the new Igbo generation.
Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC) is the Apex sociocultural organization of all Igbo youths, to promote sociocultural, political cum economic development in Igbo land. At the Inception of Ohanaeze in 1976 when it was Igbo Union until 1979 it was renamed Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Until 1997 there was no Youth body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, but at the peak of the tenure of Justice Eze Ozobu of blessed Memory in 1998 Some pro- Igbo student’s Activist then approached Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Justice Eze Ozobu to establish the Youth body of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. Immediately Justice Eze Ozobu who solely believe in successional leadership approved the Establishment of “OHANAEZE YOUTH COUNCIL (OYC) and Comrade Nnandi Nwokeocha became the National president, who held the position for three consecutive times, followed by Comrade Frank Orji from Abia who came in at the 2010 National Convention. In 2014 another National Convention was held and Comrade Chukwudi Anachuna from Anambra became the National President. Another National Convention was held in 2019 when Comrade Igboayaka O Igboayaka from Imo emerged the National president.
At the creation of Committees in Ohanaeze Ndigbo ” Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing Committee, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Women Wing Committee and other Committees)Wing was created. It is important to note that OHANAEZE YOUTH COUNCIL(OYC) remain in its statue as Apex youth body of Igbo Youths. Even due the creation of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing, was created later to subdue the youths and to have total control in the affairs of the youths, because Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC) under those youths activist wasn’t following Ohanaeze Ndigbo Sheepishly,therefore they saw the need to create Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing that will be singing their praise also eulogise their politicians.
Nwanne a new history was made as i elected the National president Ohanaeze Youth Council OYC on 11th May 2019 and i have set plans to achieve my vision. At inception of my emergence I initiated the following National Executive Directorates in Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC) which was approved by the (NEC) of the Council.
1. Directorate of Entrepreneurship & Empowerment
2. Directorate Culture and Ethical promotion
3. Directorate of Students & Gender Affairs
4. Directorate of Research and Documentation
5. Directorate of Strategy & Implementation for Functional Seaport
6. Directorate of Political Strategy and Engagement.
7. Directorate of Diaspora’s Affairs & Trade/Investment
8. Directorate For Legal Affairs
9. Directorate Contact & Mobilization
10. Directorate of Rehabilitation & Resettlement
11. Directorate of Event and Program
12. Directorate of Medical & Sports
13. Directorate of Transport
14. Directorate of physically Challenge
15. Directorate of Intelligence & Special Duties.
16. Directorate of Commence & Media Trading.
The above National Directorates needs credible youths that will constitute the Directorates. I and my executives are ready to work and deliver but we need youths that are better than Us. I am not the president because I am the best, I am the president because I had the opportunity and the passion to serve.
It’s my vision to make the Council a membership organization, first in history i initiated the need for the council to have membership card. I also started constituting state executives and branch executives with conventions/congresses unlike before what exist is only National Executives.
Today i have conducted convention in Delta, Enugu, Ebonyi, and congress in Imo, Anambra, Rivers and Abia. Consequently, my plan is to establish the leadership of the Council in all LGA’s and Communities of Igbo extraction. This is the only way Igbo youths can speak in One Voice, and take over our land from the hand of political profiteers.
Today we are changing the narrative in Ohanaeze Ndigbo, what we seeing today in Ohanaeze Ndigbo is only “EZE” the “OHA” has not been participating. Ohanaeze Ndigbo became a secret society of micro scopic few. But there will a new rebirth of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in 2021, this why i became the president of Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC) to ensure that “OHA” are involve and know what’s happening Ohanaeze Ndigbo unlike before.
OUR MISSION
Nwanne we must now hold our Igbo political office holders, Governors, Senators, Reps, ministers etc responsible. Hope you remember that charity begins at home?
They are mostly responsible for the colossal leadership failure we had in Igbo. Obviously, it’s not totally the Hausa/Fulani as we assumed over the years.. The Present Igbo political office holders and leadersip of Ohanaeze Ndigbo constitute 75% cause of marginalization and poor leadership we have experienced in Igbo land.
Our target is to mobilize Igbo Youths for social re-engineering geared towardsthe following mission/ objectives
1.. Functional Seaport in Igbo land.
(A) Azumini (blue River) is 30 nautical miles to Atlantic Ocean( strategically located connecting Rivers State, Akwaibom State, and Abia State)
(B) Obeaku- Ndoki Is 25 nautical miles to Atlantic Ocean.
(C) Oseakwa (River Ulasi) Ihiala Anambra that linked to Osemoto Oguta River Imo State Is only18 nautical to Atlantic Ocean with 20m deep without dredging. Do you know that Ulasi is the deepest River in Nigeria, (Strategically located connecting Anambra Imo, Delta, Beyelsa and Enugu)
(D) Ibaka Akwaibom Is 30 nautical mile to Atlantic Ocean.
Why do we have Moribund Seaports in Igbo land? It’s is a deliberate orchestrated conspiracy, which the Northern political Mafians and Yorubas conspired and declare that Niger Delta Area is unsafe for Importation and exportation of goods. Do you know that 98% of agitation in Niger Delta as regards militancy is sponsored by Oil companies in collaboration with the Northern Mafians?
Now they are playing another game for States to manage their own solid minerals. This is a pure conspiracy for the Northern states that have gold to manage their gold, while the liquid mineral in Igbo land wilbe managed by FG.
(E) Calabar is 45 nautical miles to Atlantic Ocean.
(F) Onne is 50 natural miles to Atlantic Ocean.
(G) Bonny Is 45 nautical miles to Atlantic Ocean.
*A functional seaport is the only way to transform ala Igbo to become the economic hub of West Africa.
*The economic destiny of Ndi Igbo lies in Maritime business..
* Ndi Igbo must rise now to seek for economic survival.
* The sociopolitical cum economic survival of Ndi Igbo lies on the new generational leaders (The Youths)
There is a deliberate conspiracy to undermine economic development in Igbo land, actually we’re not landlocked. We must break this conspiracy and make Ala Igbo a prosperous land in Africa.
If we have functional seaports in Igbo land, Igbo business men can feed and cloth a senators.
2. Functional International Standard Airport( Dr. Sam Mbakwe administration built Imo Airport, that Airport was built by collective effort of Old Imo State people, traders, workers, students etc.
3. Connecting Ala Igbo to Modern Railway( all the cities in Igboland, Portharcourt, Aba, Nnewi, Asaba, Orlu, Okigwe, Umuahia, Onitcha, Obigbo, Ikwerre, Enugu, Nsukka, Afigbo, Owerri, Abakiliki, Calabar, Ibaka etc
4. Connecting Ala Igbo to National Electric Grid (for industrial revolution)
* lack of National Electric Grid has made no single company to survive in Igbo land. This has resulted to loss of human capital flight in Igbo land.
5. Connecting Ala Igbo to Industrial Gas Pipeline( Ala Igbo is the Highest depositors of Gas in Nigeria) Imo, Enugu and Ebonyi
6. A missive campaign/ political consultative engagement for the Re-opening of department of Chemical Engineering at UNN that was shutdown since 1970 after the war. ( the best department in African and Among 10th best Department in the world in Early 60’s)
7. A massive Campaign/ political consultative engagement to construct the federal road that lead to Abuja, from Anambra Otuocha/ Nmiata to kogi by extension to Abuja(only 3hrs drive from the Eastern Nigeria to Abuja)
We must Kindly disregard the conspiracy of exclusive list, the only fact in the exclusive list is the printing of currency which the state can’t do, but any other item there can be executed by the state. If state government can build federal roads and seek refund from federal government, the same state government can seek dredging our potential Seaports, Ring inter-state road of Igbo extraction, build power station, converting of waste through building recycling industrial that can create job and generate electricity, creation of new micro and mini cities in Igbo States by attract new infrastructural development in rural Area like Banks, Schools, hospital, markets and small scale industries.
Over 50 years we have been hearing about Aba, Nnewi, Onitsha, Awka, Owerri, Asaba, Portharcourt, Calabar, Umuahia, Abakiliki, till today no one can point at any new City established in Igbo land by our Governors. Creating a new City in areas like Ozubulu, Owerre Nta, Umuagwo, Mbaise, Mbano, Ohaozara, Uturu, Ariam, Afikpo, Ekwuluobia, Arondizuogu, Elele, Oguta,etc will be done by an Igbo man not an Hausa/Fulani man. I hope is not a Fulani man is holding creation of such cities?
Nwanne m, not having all these things is not because of Fulani or Nigeria government. We must liberate Igbo land from shackle of bad leadership. We have Governors in Igbo land who are merely Northern servants.
Nwanne m, the masses are the most powerful people on Earth. Ndi Igbo must convert their population into a political capital. Ndigbo constitute 42.8 of total population of Nigeria, the Fulani’s are not more than 7 million people. Therefore, it is mathematically very wrong for minority to marginalize majority, our undoing is poor strategy the inability to have a long term political cum economic project.
Ndigbo must stop this blame game of hausa/fulani and embrace the challenges ahead of us.
Nwanne the problem of Ndigbo are our leaders in Igboland, the youth must rise now and organize themselves to access political power. No Igbo reasonable youth now should expect Development of Ala from the current politicians, they have failed, and if you give them another opportunity, they will fail again. The solution lies in change over.
Join OYC now for this changer over.
Join Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC) to emancipate Ndigbo from shackle of bad leadership and followership
Thank You!
Comr Igboayaka O. Igboayaka is your brother and the National president
Ohanaeze Youth Council(OYC)
It is an abomination for managers of a company to take over the business from the owners, then tie up the owners as their captive slaves. But that is what has happened in Nigeria. Over the years, government who are just the managers, have seized power from the owners of the land, that is, the indigenous people. This has created a Nigeria that is the poverty capital of the world, that is retarding rather than developing, that has genocide and terrorism, and that is essentially a failed state. Things are so frightening and unsafe that recently the USA cautioned its citizens against travelling to Nigeria at all. Clearly, Nigeria is not being run for the benefit of its people.
Therefore, the indigenous ethnic nationalities of the Middle Belt and South (NINAS — *Nigerian Indigenous Nationalities Alliance for Self-Determination*) came together and declared a Constitutional Force Majeure (CFM) over a Sovereignty Dispute thus:
*A) When did we submit ourselves, our lands, and our assets into such a Union?*
*B) When did we make for ourselves the 1999 Constitution?*
Therefore, within 90 days starting from midnight of 16th December 2020, the date of Declaring the CFM, the Central Government of Nigeria is to action these 5 Demands:
*1.* Acknowledge declaration of a Constitutional Force Majeure by indigenous peoples of Middle Belt and South.
*2.* Throw away/decommission the repudiated 1999 Constitution.
*3.* Formally announce that general elections in 2023 under this repudiated 1999 Constitution are suspended (will not take place).
*4.* Formally invite people of South and Middle Belt to work out what a new Transitional Government will look like.
*5.* Formally begin a Transitioning Process under that Transitional Government, lasting a specific time period, when firstly the ethnic nationalities in their blocs will carry out their Regional Referendums. Then, from the results of that, negotiate the kind of future the peoples democratically want.
Government are the managers, the people are the owners. Therefore it is expected that government will know its place and action these 5 Demands, which are the wishes of the people. The concerned world is watching, and an orderly process is expected.
The Academic Staff Union of University, on Wednesday, suspended its strike, ending the industrial action that started since March 2020.
ASUU National President, Biodun Ogunyemi, made the announcement during a briefing of the union in Abuja.
He said the suspension of the strike takes effect from Thursday, December 24th, 2020.
It was earlier reported that the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, on Tuesday, assured Nigerians that the prolonged strike by the varsity lecturers would be called off before January 15.
Ogunyemi also said the lecturers sympathised with students who were also their children, adding that “no amount of sacrifice would be too much to get the matter resolved as long as the government is consistent with its commitments.”
While warning that the union would return to strike without notice if the government fails in meeting its part of the agreement reached with the university lecturers, Ogunyemi noted that the reopening of the schools, considering the COVID-19 pandemic, lies with the Federal Government and Senate.
It is incontrovertible that the floating of a security outfit in a country without securing proper approval or clearance from the relevant agencies is nothing but challenging the sovereignty of that State. Floating a security outfit in a Sovereign nation without following the due process is an embarrassing act which no State can tolerate because such act can be interpreted as a challenge to the territorial integrity of the State. Take it or leave it, such is nothing but an invitation for war.
A State whose territorial integrity is threatened to such extent by a clandestine security outfit will never take it lightly but will certainly descend heavily on such security organization to crush it with all its might.
The recent act of floating a Biafran security outfit can be seen as a security threat to the national integrity of Nigeria and an invitation for anarchy, hell and armageddon.
Obviously, if proper actions are not quickly taken to forestall any possible break down of law and order which may crop up in our region due to such brazen act of our brothers, the weak and the innocent could become an unfortunate victims of the consequences of that act.
According to a Law maxim, ‘those consenting (to a crime) and those perpetrating it (the crime) are embraced in the same punishment (consentientes et agentes pari poen plencitentur).
Therefore, we cannot wait until this unlawful deed hurts our entire region before we take action. Again, a Latin maxim says;, ‘Error qui non ressistitur approbatur ( an error not resisted is approved). It is equally said that ‘Qui tacet consetire videtur’ which means, silence gives consent or he who is silent appears to consent. If therefore we keep mute without condemning and disassociating ourselves from that deed, it could be interpreted by anyone to mean that we acquiesced (consented) to such act.
To this effect, issuing of a DISCLAIMER by the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra (CG-IPOB) is the wisest and proper action to take so as to dissociate her subjects and all members of her various arms from such crime which remains a crime against a State. Not to do this, will certainly expose CG-IPOB and her subjects to the same punishment and consequences that await the actual offenders.
It should be noted that the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra (CG-IPOB) has adopted the Legal Methodology which includes the Political method, the Judicial method and the Diplomatic method. In line with her Judicial method, CG-IPOB is already in Court in the matter of Customary Law, Suit No FHC/CS/103/2019: Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra v Federal Republic of Nigeria & the Attorney-General of the Federation. Therefore, CG-IPOB will not close eyes and watch any misdeed that is capable of causing serious mischief to her Legal methodology. It cannot permit any misconduct that is equally capable of misinforming the general public about her. Again, CG-IPOB will not accept or condone any unlawful act that is effectively capable of denting her image directly or indirectly.
CG-IPOB will at any time, expressly frown at any unlawful conduct that has the potentiality of misrepresenting her or any of her organs before the international community, the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and before the general public. This is why the Customary Government of IPOB deemed it very necessary to issue the disclaimer.
Now, for those that are celebrating that the floating of such security outfit is a welcome development, they should quickly take this maxim home: ‘Quod contra legem fit, pro infecto habetur’, – which means, ‘what is done contrary to the law, is considered as not done’. For no one can derive any advantage from such (unlawful) act.
Ofcourse, none can derive any advantage from such (unlawful) act because it is obvious thatthat the perpetrators completely lack any legal force to operate. Hence, whatever be their act, is in the eyes of the law, an exercise in futility and in all circumstances null and void and of no lawful effect. Therefore, that act of floating a security outfit remains a nullity in its entirety.
The House of Representatives has asked the Federal Government to extend the deadline for the provision of National Identification Number by telecommunication service subscribers to 10 weeks.
The House, at the plenary on Wednesday, described the two weeks given to SIM card users by the Nigerian Communications Commission to provide their NIN to service providers as grossly inadequate.
The Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, had moved a motion of urgent public importance to demand more time.
Adopting the motion, the House resolved that the exercise should end on January 28, 2021, as against December 30, 2020.
The NCC had threatened that SIM cards not linked to NIN issued by the National Identity Management Commission would be blocked.
