A Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja, on Monday, granted bail to the former National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd).
Dasuki had been on trial for alleged diversion of funds meant for procurement of arms to combat the Boko Haram menace to the 2015 President campaign of then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The bail granted the embattled former presidential aide, on Monday, would be the sixth such bail granted him since trial.
The trial judge, Justice Ojukwu, described the continuous detention of the Dasuki for the last two and half years as ‘an aberration to the rule of law and the contrition’.
She, therefore, grated the former NSA bail in the sum of N200 million and two sureties.
The sureties according to her, must not be lower than grade 16 in the civil service and where they are private citizens they must be owners of landed properties in Asokoro, Maitama, Utako or Garki area of Abuja.
Every afternoon beside my office around Kwatta in Awka,tens of Okada Riders assemble to patronize Mama -Put Food Vendor. About 70% Customers of this road side food vendor come from Okada Riders.The reason is obvious; Okada Riders can easily make a thousand naira within few hours to go for N250 plate of fufu food.
We need to understand what powers the economy .It is the micro economic activities of business units that keep the circular flow of income ,consumption and expenditure afloat.
Effective this morning ,the policy on Okada ban within Awka and Onitsha will affect the purchasing powersk of many households.Not just among the Okada Riders but to that woman beside my office ,to the Ugu sellers inside eke Awka market,fish sellers etc
This policy tends to reduce accident causalities within these two cities as well as stopping street robbery ,however,government should have implemented a complementary policy before today to cushion the effect of a gap between demand and supply .Every economic policy comes with certain degree of pains but responsible government all over the world considers the welfare of the ordinary people before policy execution.
Gov Obiano Administration has announced a credit facility for 1000 shuttle buses as an alternate measure to cushion effect the ban will have on the Okada Riders.The problem with this laudable measure lies on the sincerity of the Government Agents in ensuring that the right thing is done.
Sadly,there is a wide communication gap between those in power and the poor masses.Ask your self,why should people go into Okada riding business? Because Government has failed to create investment friendly environment viz power and micro funding.With an increasing population, businesses and factories are shutting down because of frustrating and unfriendly operational business environment.
As an economist,I know that Anambra State Government will create another economic problems with dire consequences if prompt actions are not taken to narrow the gap that will surface because of the implementation of Okada ban within Awka and Onitsha.However,the gap will create other business opportunities which will be dissected in days to come.
Ndubuisi Anaenugwu is an economist and a Director in BVIChannel 1
The Coalition of pro Biafra groups, on Wednesday, met in Enugu State, with the prime minister of Biafra Government in Exile (BGIE) and some other Diaspora leaders of other pro-Biafra groups in Europe where they resolved to work together as one family fighting for one course of Biafra restoration.
Our Reporters gathered that groups had also resolved to move under a collegiate leadership with the spirit of oneness and brotherhood.
Mr. Uchenna Madu,One of the Leaders of the Coalition, who confirmed the meeting said that it lasted till early hours of Wednesday, with full of hope and confidence as the collegiate leadership of pro-Biafra coalitions groups at home and Diaspora deliberated extensively on the ideological approaches and differences on pursuit of Biafra restoration.
Madu said, “We later resolved to work together as comrades fighting for the same course”.
“The Diaspora leadership of pro Biafra coalitions groups and Biafra government in Exile (BGIE) hails the true reflection of unity, love and brotherhood exhibited by the members of coalition.
“They specifically commend the coalition on the successful Biafra day anniversary celebration.
“The prime Minister noted that this coalition of pro Biafra is one of the best development in history of the current agitation for the restoration of Biafra.
“The details of other issues discussed which includes the conscious security of Biafra land, 2019 general election and international diplomatic contacts will not be exposed now”.
He said that the coalition met with the leadership of Ambazonia Republic from Southern Cameroon where it discussed bilateral relationship.
“The coalition meeting also entered into a handshake discourse with the representatives of the interim government of Southern Cameroon (Ambazonian Republic).
“We discussed on the processes of building a diplomatic and bilateral relationship that will enhance the interest of Biafra and Ambazonia (Southern Cameroon)”.
“The two emerging African States resolved to work together for a sustainable and effective diplomatic processes of achieving full sovereignty and total independence from Nigeria and Cameroon,” Madu stated.
The Special Military Task Force, Operation Save Haven, yesterday paraded three suspects in connection with the latest killings in Plateau State.
The three men were said to have been captured at Gashish District in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of the state.
The suspects were paraded in Jos, alongside 14 others who were arrested over the killings in which people described as herdsmen were believed to have massacred over 200 people, mainly locals and farmers, between Saturday and Sunday dawn of June 24.
At least, 11 villages in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area and its environs were affected in the onslaught in which property worth billions of naira were also destroyed.
Parading the suspects, spokesman of the STF, Major Umar Adams, said the suspects were arrested while they had in their possession sophisticated rifles.
Adams said two of the suspects were Fulani herders and one Berom, a minority ethnic group in Plateau.
Adams said the suspects were arrested in the course of the attacks.
“We all know that some days back, some villages in Barkin Ladi were attacked and these three suspects were arrested in connection with that.
“As our men were repelling the attacks in those areas, we arrested these suspects with four rifles, three locally made guns and one AK-47.
“The other 14 people were arrested in connection with civil unrest recently experienced in the state.”
Adams said that the suspects were still being investigated and that more arrests would be made.
The Women Leadership Institute, Abuja will be holding its inaugural conference on Thursday, 28th June 2018.
According to information from the Programme Manager, Amaka Chijioke, the theme for the Conference is ‘Transforming Africa Through Women Leadership’.
Speakers for the event include Ms Eugenia Abu, Ms Mary Ikoku, Ms Aisha Aliyu and Dr Akilu Sani Indabawa.
Others are Professor Chudi Uwazurike, Udo Maryann Okonjo, Crochelle Harris-Hussein and Toyosi Akerele-Ogunsiji,
The official launch and opening of the Institute will be performed by the Special Guest of Honour, Senator Ben Bruce and Mr Anthony Ubani, while the welcome address will be presented by its founder, Ambassador Kema Chikwe, a former Minister of Aviation.
A Video Documentary of the Institute will also be aired while Closing Remarks will be done by Ms. Somachi Kachikwu.
Conference sessions will be divided into three, with the following topics to be discussed: The Courage to Lead, Mobilizing the Power of Women to Lead, and Next Steps.
Venue for the conference is National Universities Commission, Abuja and time is 9am prompt.
HERE ARE THE AREAS AFFECTED BY OKADA BAN STARTING FROM JULY 1
The Anambra State Government won’t be going back on its stand to ban Okada within Onitsha and Awka, as from July 1st, 2018.
According to the public service announcement on the enforcement order signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Solo Chukwulobelu, the areas affected by the ban are as follows:
GREATER ONITSHA AREA
Onitsha Urban (Onitsha North and South LGAs)
Okpoko
Ogbaru Metro
3/3 Area
Obosi/ Awada Area
Nkpor Area up to Ugwunwasike/ New Tarzan
Ogidi Urban
Oba Urban
GREATER AWKA AREA
Awka Metro (including all adjourning streets within the town)
Amawbia Metro (including all adjourning streets in the town)
Nibo Metro
Okpuno
Amansea
SPECIAL AREAS
All major highways from Head Bridge (Onitsha) to Amansea (including the Expressway and Old Road)
All major highways from Head Bridge (Onitsha) to Upper Iweka, to Owerri road and Oba Junction.
The order further called on affected persons to seek alternative means of livelihood as eligible persons may as well take advantage of the loan scheme for the purchase of mini busses as provided by the government through the Anambra Small Business Agency (ASBA).
The various security agencies have also been mandate to arrest and prosecute motorcyclists flouting the order while their motorcycles are impounded and forfeited therewith.
The government thereby calls on Ndị Anambra to support its effort in sanitizing the transport system and sustaining the security in the state.
I feel so sad that our present crop of political leaders at all levels have not learnt anything from recent history.I really feel that there is indeed evil spirit attacking our political Leaders whenever they get into political office .Reuben Abati once told battered Nigerians that strong evil powers abound inside Aso Villa.Many called him names then.
From my personal research ,I have been able to deduct that the evil spirit is the people outside power.Let me say that I sympathize with the President,The Governors,The Senators, The Honorable Members .You need to sympathize with these people.The condition of our political Leaders is like driving a Bus whose body was built and constructed with wooden materials instead of metal.The Conductor and few passengers are enjoying the drive but the Driver is afraid of the obvious but could not stop since many are not complaining of the danger ahead .The Passengers and Conductor are professional praise singers !
The kind of professional praise singers we have within the political circle is rather most unprecedented. Have we actually lost our senses! I am bothered that even those who should know better ,those who have travelled to foreign countries to study the way of white people are all guilty of praise singing directly or indirectly. As Head of Operations in the Bank then,I have always advised my Staffers to criticize me,my work strategy and style.I have always encouraged them to feel free to question my actions.
Presently ,I always caution those with praise singing altitude around me.Be real and do your work .Let your good work speak for you.This cankerworm called Praise Singing is the evil spirit is the villa and Governors’ lodges.As human,you are bound to get confused .
Those who attended townhall meeting organised by Anambra State Association of Town Unions at Dora Akunyili conference centre,Awka last Saturday for Anambra Central Senatorial Zone would agree with me that the people on the floor were never given opportunity to express their views on the topic of that day- Democracy,The People,and Our Collective Aspirations.As usual,it turned out to be a platform for self glorification and a platform for praise singing,at the end,nobody gave microphone to the ordinary people that had to forgo other important engagements to be part of town hall meeting.I will remain indebted to internet for given my poor self a platform to express my views on certain issues bothering us as a people.
I have a lot to say but it is important to note that Nigeria as a country is fraudulently packaged to favour just few people.The first to be done is massive reorientation of our people on the skewed political and economic structures in Nigeria and Igbo agenda while in Nigeria.These men spoke in line with my thought during the town hall meeting viz Prof Pita Ejiofo,Chief Damian Okeke- Ogene,Dr Jude Okolo and few others.
Going forward,those organizing Town hall meeting should note that it is an opportunity to secure feedback from the people because NaThemBeGovernment .
Ndubuisi is the Coordinator of OurMumuDondo Movement in Anambra State
OMPAN ANAMBRA STATE CHAPTER URGES ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNOR TO EXTEND THE DATE ON BAN OF OKADA TO DECEMBER 31
Leaders and members of the trail blazing Association, Online Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria, Anambra State Chapter has urged Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State to urgently revert the proposed date of July 1st given to commercial motorcyclists in some of the major cities (Awka and Onitsha) in the state to stop operating.
The Chairman of OMPAN Anambra State Chapter, Comrade Mike Nwachukuwu during the general meeting of the Association on Sunday 24th June, 2018 said it is in the best interest of Ndi Anambra both home and abroad that enough time be given to the okada people, as this is the source of livelihood for many them.
He equally stated that most of them could not afford the N100,000 Which the state government slated for the leasing of the mini shuttle and requested they been given from now till December 31st in order to save up money especially now the country is experiencing economic downturn.
However; Comrade Nwachukwu led his team to an Okada park in GRA, Onitsha metropolis where the entire OMPAN team interacted with some of the motorcycle operators.
Speaking to OMPAN, Mr Innocent Amudu, a motorcyclist in Onitsha lamented on the July 1 deadline saying that the notice was too short for them as he is a family man with five children and the Okada business is the only source of his livelihood.
Another motorcyclist , Mr Onyekachi Eze noted that the N100,000 bus scheme by the state government is a good development but 90% of Okada people cannot even afford that amount and to get a civil servant worker to surety him has been a problem.
Mr Eze who said he worked as a polling agent officer during the November 18th general election urged Gov. Obiano to extend the time to December 31 to give them time to save up enough money.
Also speaking to OMPAN, the Chairman of the Okada Association GRA branch, Mr Chima John appreciated OMPAN for the visit while explaining that the decision of the government might not improve security.
According to him, most of the Commercial cyclists are law abiding citizens who went into Okada business to support their various families.
He explained that he has used the business to train his children in school, help his aged mother and train his six (6) children.
He further requested the government to give them enough time to plan out new business model to venture in.
Meanwhile, OMPAN members took turns in interviewing them and some passerby who make use of motorcycle for their daily activities.
OMPAN Anambra State Chapter promise to keep the general public updated on event concerning the ban as we believe that the government will reconsider her decision.
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, the nation’s capital, has on Monday, granted bail to four pro-Biafra agitators- Bright Chimezie, Chidiebere Onwudiwe, Benjamin Madubugwu and David Nwawuisi.
The Biafra agitators were hitherto facing treasonable felony charge alongside the ‘missing’ leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mr. Nnamdi Kanu.
Trial Justice, Binta Nyako granted the defendants bail to the tune of N10million each with two sureties in like sum.
The presiding judge also directed that the money should be deposited in cash to the Chief Registrar of the Court, even as she ordered the defendants to surrender all their travelling documents and not travel without leave of the court.
Bishop (Dr) Obi Udezuwe Onubogu, former Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to the late Head of State of the defunct Republic of Biafra, General Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, has revealed what his boss told them about Biafra.
Onubogu who is currently the Bishop, Rock Family Church, Rock Cathedral, Enugu, was with the late Ojukwu as the civil war raged, as well as in exile.
In this exclusive interview with our Reporters, the former police officer gave an insider information of how Ojukwu felt during the critical moments of the war, his exile, his belief in Biafra and what it stands for. He said that the only thing that will make Nigeria to be one nation was to dialogue and agree on restructuring of any kind. The bishop revealed why Igbo billionaires are reluctant in the support for Biafra, saying that Ojukwu told them that Biafra was the only hope for the Igbo man. Excerpt:
You were the ADC to General Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Commander-in-Chief of the defunct Republic of Biafra. What did he tell you about Biafra vis-a-vis the current wave of Biafra restoration agitation. Do you think that the current agitation for Biafra restoration is realistic?
Yes indeed. I was in the police force when the war broke out. In fact, when the national riots and disturbances happened I was serving in the mobile force, MOPOL 3, Enugu. I was a unit commander and we were drafted to Lagos when the situation was very tense and we were there when the coup d’état happened. In fact, my unit was assigned to disarm the leaders of the coup. We went to the cantonment in Ikeja and the officers and the men were released to us. We took them to be detained at Apapa. So, we could have been attacked, there could have been a clash. When I look at my life today, I begin to see that God saved me and showed me something about this nation early. So, from all the problems at that level we were on the sideline doing the arrest and seeing what was happening until the crisis increased and we were asked to comeback. I was serving in Port Harcourt when I was posted to the Biafran Government House and then the declaration has happened. The state of Biafra was already born. The civil war has started far away at the boundaries till the pressure came close to Enugu and the sit of the Biafran government moved from Enugu to Umuahia; that was when I was transferred and I joined the service with Biafran authorities at Umuahia. So, you can see also that I experienced a lot about the beginning. I knew the pressure and I saw the suffering of the people. I saw the air raid. I saw the victims of kwashiorkor in the camps all over the place. The hunger the world council of churches activities; relief programmes and all that. So coming to what you said you know very well that at that point our people had no choice than to hold on together to see a way of defending ourselves. We were hunted. We were hunted in the North that every crisis that happened we were victims. There were massacres nobody could remember ever not losing a relative. It was terrific and yet we sat there not as administrators, but we sat there as security officers watching and beholding what was happening. There were consultations, people were coming in for marathon meetings and so on, military, the navy and what was left in the air force, the politicians, the civil service, but we were just witnesses. We saw the visit of the international communities from all parts of the world, they had meetings and so on. How do you think all these things could have happened if not a resolution of the people? The people who are hunted, the people who have suffered, some of them have lost everything they helped to build. I am dealing with the foundation of a nation called Biafra, something else happened later that everybody came out not having a gun, not having ammunition, but still wanting to defend what they believed they stood for. Today, if you go to the net you will find the soldiers with sticks. They were practicing with sticks as riffles so that when the riffles and arms arrived they will be used to it. They never had weapons. So, that was the original concept on which Biafra was built. Everybody agreed that no we can’t live like this again, we will fight for what we will leave for our children, we will fight to defend it. Many people didn’t ask how are we going to fight, do you have the way to import arms and ammunition, how would you pay for ammunition and all that. How would you even survive, most people didn’t think about that. The deep feeling was that since we are not wanted we better stay together all alone, that was it and that was what the leadership pushed out to the people and they bought that idea. If you don’t stay together they will slaughter you. You better stay together to organize your survival.
What happened then?
The war was fought, but it became very disastrous and very painful. There were unimaginable loses, air raids, hunger, and sickness, there was disease, death. I saw people dying in their thousands not just from the events at the war front, but the situation was tough. The refugee problem was beyond the control of what we had and I know that the international bodies were helping and sending reliefs. How many planeload of relief per night do you think will solve the problems and take care of the refugees? It just trickled, one planeload a night for the entire Biafra and so on. But the World Council of Churches and the rest of the international bodies that were helping did their best to provide food, to provide medicine, some of them risked their lives to bring, but in spite of that the territory was shrinking and the pressures were more and more and then, people were less enthusiastic in rushing to the war front and, of course, the situation became more realistic. I remember certain incidents during the war today as a servant of God and they made me shed tears. I was sent to Owerri, there were locations we secured as Biafran government houses and establishment. There was a bomb attack. A plane flew over Owerri and dropped several bombs that exploded and killed people and as a security officer on duty I was sent to inspect the scene and make a report for the government. I went there, it was around Shell Camp Owerri and the casualty had been cleared and the fire was just fading when I arrived and I had to speak to our people to encourage them and to bring down the fear. You wouldn’t believe what I did. They said there were at least eight huge bombs that were dropped around the area, but they heard only explosion of five; there were still three unexploded bombs. As they were showing me the place we located one which is not totally buried, half of it still showed outside and people rushed to see it and some people were asking people to go away. I went there and stood at that bomb and called people around and address them and what I said was; well the God that has saved you that same God was still working with you. I want you to go and continue your local affairs and know that in this trouble God is with us and that is it. Our people were showing me round, we checked what was lost and how many people that were involved and we left. Two hours after leaving there the rest of the bombs exploded. As a man of God, I said God I am foolish. You saved me. You saved me at the time like this because I would have died there. I would have perished there. There were other incidents. Our troops had contacts with the enemy troop – Biafra troops had contact with the Nigerian troops and they made a deal not to fight again. They became friends and they were exchanging things. On the other side they brought drinks and scarce commodities and our people organized party for them and invited local girls and that kind of things; it was going on until at some point our own people tricked them to come into the Biafra territory and arrested them. They brought them to the Biafran Government House; I was on duty and they were lined up and when we went to report this incident to the Biafran leader – you see these are some untold stories which people like you should go back to dig out more facts about it. He said to us; how is it possible that you said about 175 to 200 were brought out there for my inspection? How were they captured? What were the casualties on your side? He said there was something fishy about this, but I don’t know, let’s go and inspect the parade and he went there. As he was inspecting the parade one of the persons that came saluted him, it was his back man in the North, it was full of emotion then, of course, at the end the story was told. There was no fight, there was no battle, there was a deal, Gowon was safe in his bunker, Ojukwu was safe in his bunker and you people were dying at this place at no man’s land and we were dying every day, why not we stop dying and see what they will do. But our own people pulled back on the agreement and arrested them and brought them forward. You know why I am telling you all these because you can go ahead and say all manner of rubbish about Ikemba; he was a wicked man; who told you that he was a wicked man? Who said so? Have you had any dealing with him? Do you know that he had friends up to when he came back from exile? He had friends from the North. Do you know that while he was in exile, I was there, some of his friends; Nigerian rulers and Emirs visited him in Ivory Coast.
Then what happened?
We came back and the war ended. I can even tell you another story about the end of the war. Before he flew out of Uli Airport, but first of all we headed to Uga and we were there at Uga when we received signal that the plane was landing at Uli and we pulled back to Uli. It was a sudden decision because the fronts were collapsing and there was danger, confusion and everything was just falling apart like that. So they decided that we to go for peace meeting. Myself being one the persons that will go with him, a special appeal was made to ask me will you come and I said I will go. I talked to my parents they said go, we don’t know what will happen; if we all died you are out, then we went. When we came to Uli the army commanders were having their meetings there and when we arrived they pulled out to talk with him and we were trying to load personal things we had and we discovered that there was Biafran soldiers inside the plane. I went to meet them, they said you are not going to anywhere. You are leaving us in this and we are going to blow-up this plane. It was one of my toughest challenges to speak to them, plead with them, and explained to them that we need to keep alive in other to forge ahead with the struggle. As God will have it they heard and then, they allowed us to load, of course, we rewarded them with reliefs and so on for themselves, their friends and their troops and then we boarded the aircraft that had no seats. We sat on the floor everybody, including the head of state and that was how we departed. But then the question was still what happened? After the war we were in exile. People tried to return to where they came from, some succeeded, some didn’t succeed. You know the story about 20 Pounds. Everybody was leveled with that and looking back today we just thank God for His miracles He did in the lives of our people about recovery and the prosperity He released. People don’t like to talk about it or even to analyze it, but for me as a man of God that is a miracle. All these industrialists you see and all these rich people you see, all started with 20 Pounds.
So, we recovered some of our things and built businesses and went back again to the place where we first started and made friends. People were good to us, some people even took the rent of houses belonging to our people and kept it for them and they looked after their property and so on. Immediately we began to develop a new class of Ndigbo; those who fought and died and those who fought with injuries and pains, but recovered. They went back and started building; they built industries, they built commerce, they built churches, and they built all manner of things in this nation. Is it the same people you are saying to abandon that and come back to fight for what? I am being honest with you. Some people cannot imagine losing again or abandoning again what they have in this land. They can’t. They are so rich that coming back without what they have there is like asking them to commit suicide. So you have a class of growing young people that didn’t witness the war or who were told somewhere like my children; for example, made me to sit down for a whole day to tell them the story. The eldest told me father, people came referring to you, tell us what happened. We don’t know which story to believe and many people too love the concept of Biafra; self-determination, independent and free to develop ourselves and our potentials; the young people love it, but they didn’t know what happened and now they said that the things they heard were the ideal thing and they want it. They need it and they must have it. Now the older people said, but you don’t know what that will cost you.
If you ask me what I will do, I am right in between the two. I witnessed what happened and I know more than an average person and I can see the point of those who went back to rebuild themselves and businesses, they are reluctant to come back. But I also understand that I wouldn’t like my children to go into slavery in this land. I like my children to develop their potentials and I wouldn’t like them to be second-class citizens. Therefore, we are in a place of balancing that. Wherever or whatever you chose to call it, is it restructuring or reconstituting or repairs or refurnishing or refurbishing whatever RE. I know that RE is a word that belongs to God. In the Bible you see a lot of RE. RE is a word that brings you to the foundation of a certain wall. Restructuring is to structure again. Rebuild is to build again. Revive means to give live again. Reeve is a French word that means to live, so revive means to live again. I like the word RE not as a politician, I am just a preacher of the gospel. If there is anything that will make the RE to work, therefore, to benefit our people then we are in for it. Don’t ask me about the details, but as we are talking within the agreement of one nation. That is what you are looking at this time.
Do you think the call for Biafra is something that is realizable one day?
The big question is what will be our expectation in the restructured Nigeria. It is left for our people to negotiate. It is left for our people to know what we want and go in for it considering the rest of the other nations around us. Yes, this is the way I see it I have a balanced view of it. I know that war is horrible, it is horrible you don’t go into war, I have learnt that when you are not equipped you don’t go into war, you don’t go to war when you have not checked how to mobilize your forces, you don’t go to war with empty hands, you don’t go to war when you are not fully organized, both civilians and so on. War is simply not the answer now, you can have Biafra in your concept of life and know that if it be the will of God someday it could still happen. That someday maybe that the people in power in this nation will see that it is better for the various people to be free to run themselves and to run their affairs and manage their resources and have a connection that brings us together. And I will put a pulse to that and tell you about something that is burning in my heart. Haven’t you seen the football team called the Supper Eagles? Check their names, they don’t come from one area. I think that their standard is, do you play the game well? Can you be a force to settle this team? There qualification is not whether they come from any part of the nation; and they were able to practice together; stay together; eat together; learn together and then they faced their enemies in the field together and they worked together; they plan together on how to beat the enemy and score the goals. I put a post today on Facebook and said: ‘Eagles: Supper Eagles Go! Go!! Go!!! Supper Eagles. Bring us our first victory tomorrow Saturday when you play your first match. Bring us home the first victory’. When I go down the line and I find that other people from other areas of this nation are saying the same thing. Unity is important for us to achieve anything about nationhood. And then, having a standard, whatever standard you chose it becomes a standard by agreement for a position in the running of the nation. For employment, for recruitment into the armed forces, for appointment into government posts, judges, military and so on. Super Eagles wouldn’t have made it to Russia if they said every person bring your relative or your preferred person and they will form this team and go, no.
What is your message to Biafra agitators?
IPOB and MASSOB, these are people who love Ndigbo maybe to a fault. They are like me, but everyday my eyes open. They have been unjustly treated. When I was interviewed in this office some time ago on the solution to the troubles in this nation, there is killing in the nation, Nnamdi Kanu was on his side blaring and they asked me, give us what will bring solution to this problems that will appeal to IPOB, MASSOB, the government and the military. I thought about the questions and God gave me an answer and I still stand on the answer till today and these are three things that are necessary; halt the killings, halt the level of marginalization, disaster, hunger and hatred. Three things and these are dialogue, dialogue and dialogue. Why cannot you talk to someone you are accusing of something and get that person to see the reasons to come round and we talk about it, maybe you will understand yourselves better. The answer to it all is dialogue. In 2016, we refused to dialogue, we refused to talk and if you check from then till now we will see what it cost us and in the future I don’t know how near it is; what will solve this whole thing is a word called dialogue. We will sit down together and talk. There will be a generation that will know that we have to talk about this. They have to listen to themselves. It is not dialogue in the Senate or House of Representatives. It is dialogue of leaders on various sides to take a decision on what they want. I say to IPOB, MASSOB and to groups that are agitating now that the God we serve will bring us and the people opposing what you are doing to a dialogue table. If you fight and leave, you will live to fight again.
As a man of God what do you see about the 2019 general election?
It is in the hand of God. The God we serve is an awesome God, you can’t deceive Him, you can’t blind fold Him, you can’t bribe Him, you can’t elect Him, and you cannot disqualify Him. He is a God that has built first of all our potentials and then our destiny. The destiny of every nation is in the hand of God. Right now, 2018 and beyond are in the hands of God and all of you listening to me and all of you politicians and all of you young people and all of you market women and all of you children you are becoming what God has already made you to be. 2019 is already decided by God and it will come to pass. If you are waiting for me to announce name or political party, no, I am not God and it’s not my duty to do that. You will be making a big mistake if you ever think that the Almighty God is not involved in the expectations we had for this nation at this time.
What did Ikemba Nnewi tell you about Biafra?
He said so many big things about Biafra and he taught us. He used to teach us at very special times. He believes in Biafra. What he said that we heard is that Biafra is the hope for the survival of the Igbo man and he hammered on it from time to time even when we were in exile. He believed on the survival of Biafra. He didn’t have a time frame because we also discussed about what could happen if certain things happened and those certain things, of course, did happen and we saw the result. He mentioned and I think one personality in this nation also mentioned it, that is, don’t toy with the idea of concepts of Biafra. You can’t kill it. You can’t destroy it. It is a concept that is built within a people and that is it. In summary what he said to our hearing was that if you go up or down Biafra is the only hope of the Igbo man, which God will give to them.
Don’t you think that the South-east governors are like a cog-in-the-wheel of progress as they collaborated with the Federal Government to proscribe IPOB as a terrorist organization?
I don’t think that our governors are our problem. That statement is an over-statement and our governors are in their place and dealing with the challenges of governance. They are not our problem. They could be our blessings. They are dealing with challenges they find themselves. These men called governors are under severe pressures. There is an English adage that says that ‘he who pays the piper calls his tunes’ that is the reality of the situation, there is a limit to what they can do. They have the laws of Nigeria, they have constitution of Nigeria and they are expected to operate within the laws and the constitution of Nigeria. They are not independent; I am sorry for them, sometimes when I look at what they are faced with I begin to feel for them. So, it will take every governor God’s wisdom, intelligence and he must be full of God to take decisions on situations in which the Federal Government is interested. They don’t have the police, but they call them the chief security officers they are not. Their security can be withdrawn and so they are attempted to play to the gallery. So, are they Ndigbo? Yes. These are sons of Igbo land. Do they know what our people are facing? Yes they do. They know in details what our people are facing. They are labouring to find a way to bring the lesser problem and pressures on the people. They didn’t declare IPOB a terrorist group, it was the army that did, but it might be possible to say that their opinions where sought. Those people want how to get peace in their regime. They want to build their states, but they have a problem not with our people, but with the decision they make or take and that will anger the Federal Government. This is the reality of the situation. They still love our people and our people love them.
