Umunze community in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State has denied allegations levelled against it by the police over the death of an unidentified policeman in a fracas between the police and youths of the community.
Youths of the community had last weekend been involved in a violent clash with policemen, said to have been despatched from Zone 9, Umuahia.
A press release signed by the state commissioner of Police, Mr Garba Umar, said that one out of three policemen who were on duty in the community were attacked by the youths, while one of them died.
Umar said, “The Suspects have been arrested and would be charged to Court to face the Law so as to serve as a deterrence to others.”
But the traditional ruler of the community, Igwe Promise Eze during a visit to his palace told DAILY POST that the allegation of killing of a policeman by youths of his community was a lie.
The monarch called for protection from Anambra State Government, saying that his subjects have all fled into hiding, following massive arrest, theft and destruction of property by men of the Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) over the death of their colleague in the community.
He narrated that, “The policeman who died was not killed by youths of this community. Let me tell you how it happened. The three policemen had come from Umuahia, after someone lodged a complaint to them about the beating of his child by a neighbour, but the policemen came and arrested youths of the community.
“So, they came back the next day to arrest more youths, but the youths resisted, insisting that they cannot be arresting people over a small matter, but the policemen insisted and started shooting, four of the youths were affected in the shooting, until they ran of bullets and the youths started beating them.
“My President General was alerted, and he rushed to the scene and intervened. He ordered the policemen to be taken to hospital, but while they were being taken there, one of the policemen jumped out of the vehicle and died. So he was not even killed by the youths.”
The monarch lamented that since after the incident, policemen from SARS have been terrorising the community, arresting everyone in sight, destroying property and stealing some of them.
“So far, police has arrested 42 persons, burnt down one hotel, while another was vandalised and looted. Cars were also destroyed too by the policemen.
“We are calling on the Federal Government to look into the activities of SARS because what they did in this community is terrible. My people have all fled this community for fear of arrest, and we are calling for a full investigation into the matter, as the police is presently portraying us as a hostile community, which is not true.
“We have been living safely with police in this community, until some policemen started terrorising this community, extorting money from the people.”
Igbo Patriots, a group of non political and non religious Igbo progressives both at home and in Diaspora with commitment to the promotion of the welfare, well being and progressive development of our people through good governance anchored on transparency, probity, accountability and social welfare on Tuesday,March 6,2018 stormed Anambra State House Of Assembly Complex,Awka to demand for immediate enactment of anti-grazing bill that would stop further clashes between herdsmen and Host Communities in the State.
In a signed letter submitted to the Office of the Speaker-Hon Rita Maduagwu,Anambra State House of Assembly today titled ”Fervent Request to Enact Anti-Grazing and Anti -Cattle Colony in Anambra State” which was made available to BVI Channel 1 Online stated that the request was for the collective interest of Ndigbo.
The details of the letter read: We are equally concerned about the recent statement of the IG of Nigerian Police, cautioning states not to pass the anti-grazing laws without first establishing grazing areas. This statement is not only irresponsible of the IGP, but also shows that he is ignorant of the place and role of the Police in a democratic society.
The Igbo Patriots considers the quest for grazing and cattle colony bills as a threat to peace and security of the Igbo nation; a covert plot by the Fulani Community with tactical support of Federal Government to promote and advance the Islamisation of the Igbo nation.
In the light of the danger to our future wellbeing, peace, progress and way of life, we wish to humbly and respectfully request the following from the Honourable Members of this distinguished House as the true representatives of the people of Anambra State:
1. Expeditiously act in the interest of the people of Anambra State by enacting the anti-open grazing bill.
2. Enact a bill that will prohibit under and circumstance whatsoever the ceding of any portion of land in Anambra State as Cattle Colony.
3. Empower the governor as the Chief Security Officer of the state; with a law establishing vigilante groups to enable him enforce such law and to protect the life and properties of the people of Anambra State.
May we respectfully remind you that it is your responsibility as the legislative arm of the state government to take all measures possible within the law to protect the people of the state against any measures that will threaten peace, security and way of life of the citizens of the state.
Igbo Patriots will partner with all stakeholders to ensure the promotion of good governance, peace and security in Anambra State in particular and South East geo political zone in general.
Accept the assurances of our esteemed regards!’ The Letter Concluded.
The Letter was signed by the Convener – Obumneke Okafor and other Leaders of the Organisation.
citizens, the price good men and women pay for not being in politics, is to be governed by those they are better than.
“The worst illiterate is the political illiterate. He hears nothing, sees nothing, take no part in political life.
He does not seem to know that the cost of living, the price of beans, of flour, of house rent, of medicine all depend on political decisions.
He even prides himself on his politicalignorance, sticks out his chest and says he hates politics. He does not know, the imbecile, that from his political non-participation comes the prostitute, and the abandoned child, the robber and worst of all, corrupt officials, the lackeys of exploitative multinational corporations.
By- Bertolt Brecht
Go get your permanent voters card(PVC) now! that’s your only power to vote out bad governance, cause whether you are interested or not you will either suffer the consequence of your ignorance or the decision of others. Make your choice today!
A suspected drug dealer ran from the Police and buried himself in the mud after he was pulled o
Rockdale County Sheriff’s Office set up a perimeter, and two hours later, the convicted felon was found with his feet sticking out of a muddy drainage creek.
ver in a car full of cocaine and crystal meth.
The suspect, Joe Hobson Jr, was pulled over on Interstate 20 near Conyers, Georgia, USA, on Thursday on suspicion of drug trafficking – but fled shortly after the traffic stop.He had
buried himself there in an attempt to evade capture, only to become stuck.
Photos posted to Conyers Police Department’s Facebook page afterwards show a sheepish-looking Hobson staring up from the mire, with officials working to help him up from the mud pit.
He was also photographed being carried away on a stretcher to the hospital for medical attention.
He was charged with possession of 29 grams of cocaine, seven grams of methamphetamine, 12 ounces of weed and oxycodine, as well as liquid codeine.
Hobson was further charged with possession of two handguns – one of which was stolen – and had $4,000 cash on him at the time of his arrest.
Conyers Police wrote on Facebook: “This convicted felon is now back behind bars following a rather unusual series of unfortunate events (for him) yesterday (Thursday March 1).
“Rockdale Fire Rescue did a fantastic job safely extracting Hobson from an extremely dangerous predicament.
“He was transported by National EMS to the hospital and confined to Rockdale County Jail before the night was over.
“Thank you to all that supported the manhunt in the rain yesterday and we are thankful for the successful outcome.”
OURMUMUDONDO MOVEMENT DEMANDS UNCONDITIONAL RELEASE OF INDEPENDENT NEWSPAPER BOSS*
We are dismayed by the arrest and detention of the Abuja Bureau Chief of the Independent Newspaper, Anthony Ezimakor, by the Directorate of State Security (DSS).
1. Mr. Ezimakor was arrested on Wednesday February 28, 2018 when he reported to the DSS office to honour an invitation issued by the agency.
2. Since his arrest, the DSS has denied Mr. Ezimakor access to his lawyers and to critical medication used to manage his blood pressure. Mr. Ezimakor’s family has also been denied access to him.
3. His arrest and detention is in continuation of the clampdown on freedom of speech and free press by the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in violation of the provisions of the Nigerian Constitution.
4. It is important to raise an alarm in a bid to halt the nation’s almost inexorable slide towards dictatorship and the horrible experiences suffered by Nigerian citizens between 1984 and 1985 when President Buhari held sway as military dictator.
5. We urge all Nigerians and indeed the international community to call on President Buhari to order the immediate and unconditional release of Mr. Ezimakor.
6. The OurMumuDonDo Movement wishes to state emphatically that we shall not hesitate to mobilize Nigerians of good conscience to occupy the Headquarters of the DSS if Mr. Ezimakor is neither released nor granted access to his critical medication, his lawyer, and his family.
SIGNED:
Adebayo Raphael
FOR: OurMumuDonDo
Deji Adeyanju
FOR: Concerned Nigerians
Ariyo Dare Atoye
For: Coalition in Defence Of Nigerian Democracy
IGBO leaders, who were attacked by youths suspected to be members of Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB and other pro-Biafra agitation groups in a meeting in Enugu on Tuesday have reeled out gory tales of how they nearly lost their lives during the commotion.
Secretary of Igbo Leaders of Thought and former Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, NOA, Prof Elochukwu Amucheazi, said he nearly lost his life during fracas. A group of youths suspected to be members of IPOB and other pro –Biafra groups disrupted the event which was meant to honour some notable Igbo, including the first Republic President, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi and late Chief Sam Mbakwe, among others. Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASSOB however, issued a statement yesterday, denying involvement in the attack. Amucheazi told Vanguard on the telephone that, although his red cap, eye glasses and mobile telephone which were forcefully taken away from him were immediately returned, he was still in shock over the attack. He said: “I was there to see Prof Nwabueze, as I didn’t even know about the awards or that anybody would be honoured. “Before much was said, they started shouting and started throwing sachet (pure) water at me. They wanted to destroy my car. We were cautioning them to listen to the elders so that they would learn from them, but they refused to listen.
“However, some of the boys who didn’t like what happened or the way I was treated, cautioned their colleagues; collected my red cap, eye glasses and my telephone and returned them to me.” FG must address South East grievances He, however, asked the Federal Government to address the myriad of grievances in the the country to reduce youth restiveness in the land. “There is a lot of anger in the land. Majority of Nigerians are suffering and the government of the day has to address the issues involved. This idea of treating some people or the Igbo as a conquered people will not be allowed to go on forever.
“My advice is that the government should address the grievances in the land. The idea of treating Igbo as a conquered people will not be allowed to go on forever. The fact that Nnamdi Kanu was subdued does not mean that another Nnamdi Kanu will not emerge again,” he added.
IPOB not applying right method– Maria Okwor
Also giving account of what happened, Deputy leader of the Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, Chief Mrs Maria Okwor said that the young members of the Indigenous People of Biafra were not applying the appropriate method pursuant of their agitation for a separatist country. She said that IPOB and other Pro-Biafra groups should accept restructuring Nigeria for now, noting that if the country is restructured, it would be easier to realise the autonomous country as being agitated by the groups. Okwor who was reacting to the disruption of ECA meeting in Enugu on Tuesday observed that the Dr Dozie Ikedife-led Biafra agitation group was going about the quest legally and asked the younger agitators to take it easy. She however asked President Muhammadu Buhari to listen to voice of the angry Nigerians and devise a means of assuaging the monumental anger in the country.
“Nobody is happy, we are all dissatisfied. Look at the security hierarchy, there is no Igbo there. They said they have defeated Boko Haram but they are still there. I sympathise with these youths and their lives no longer mean anything to them.
Incident was unfortunate—Mbazulike Amaechi
Reacting to the incident, First Republic Minister of Aviation, Chief Mbazulike Amaechi yesterday described as unfortunate, the disruption of the event of the Igbo leaders in Enugu, advising those who had any reason to protest against any perceived injustice meted out to them to always adopt peaceful means in fighting their cause. “After my address, I was honoured before I left and there was no objection or murmur from the crowd. As I was going, I saw a lot of buses heading towards the venue. “Our people should not forget what Zik did for the country. With him as our leader, we confronted the colonial masters and chased them away and took over government. If not what we did, Nigeria would not have got her independence at the time she did,” he said.
IPOB apologises
It was also gathered that the leadership of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB had apologised to the leaders of the Eastern Consultative Assembly, ECA, over the disruption of their programme in Enugu. IPOB leaders made separate telephone calls to the convener of the ECA meeting where the issue of restructuring of the country was to be discussed, with the awards to prominent eastern leaders as highlight of the occasion. “They felt bad that people like Prof Nwabueze, Maria Okwor and Ugochukwu- Uko, who had been giving them advice on how to go about their agitations in a peaceful manner were embarrassed.
Colonel Joe Achuzia would not have lived as long as he did if there was no World War and there was no Nigerian Civil War. Like Hannibal, like Napoleon Bonaparte, American George Patton, these species exist and enjoy the drama the anguish and the graveyard of the battlefields.
Peace times are offensive to their philosophies and even they are wounded and are admitted in the hospitals, the staccato rhymes of the machine guns, the drums of the bazookas, the Armageddon tremor and noise of the artillery would push these fighting leathernecks back to the trenches. The sound of war is their living call.
Looking to at my uncle, Ogbueshi na bo, Ikemba, Joe Achuzia now in total surrender, I realise at last that whatever the myth, one day the man that returned from the World War and fought to the last man in Biafra could also go to the Lord at the appointed date. I had promised my readers to wait on my conclusions on Alex Ekwueme. Then from nowhere came the thunderbolt, just at the time we are set to revise Achuzia’s Requiem Biafra: My First Foray into the Civil War memoires. This battlefield account was published by the Fourth Dimensions while I was still a student at University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).
For all of you, including my respected Professors Nwala, Chidi Osuagwu, Dr. Obinna, Cambridge Nworge and numerous other inquirers, I want to say that am still in shock and so may not be ready to answer all your questions at this time. I will advise the Ohanaeze to quickly organise a burial committee and make sure that the “Air Raid” is given a befitting funeral. Ohanaeze, because of the reality on the ground in Asaba, should go ahead and celebrate the Biafran war hero in Enugu, Onitsha and Owerri.
As a fully entitled Ogbueshi na bo, the Asaba Palace, by her tradition, would come up with their own celebrations of the life and times of the Ikemba of Asaba and the Ochiagha of Aboh.
As I say Goodbye to Hannibal, I go back to my files and publish in earnest admiration to this military generalissimo as my own tribute for all his inspiration despite his demons. His exclusives, while I was with the Satellite Newspapers, blossomed my career and set me up to more serious historical writings.
Below was Col. Achuzia giving his views on Major Onwuategwu, one of the glamorous January 15, 1966 boys, who, in Biafra, was the commander the S Brigade!: “The tempo of that clash increased with the emergency of a mercurial militia officer who went on to establish himself as one of the greatest commanders of that war. Colonel Joe Achuzia, as the commander of the rag-tag but spirited soldiers left behind to stop the second Division’s blitz, wanted to prove something. In his book, Requiem Biafra, his total commitment to battle was shown as he was taking up defensive positions at St. Patrick’s College, Asaba in the face of federal advance in to the town Mr. Augustine Odiwe, a Port Harcourt engineer, had brought him a lorry load of cutlasses.
“He told me that they had brought these to help arm the young men in the town were not in the army so that they could help defend the town. I was so touched by this incident that I vowed that regardless of the odds, I would fight and give the federal troops something to remember and if I failed to stop them I would engage them on any other ground and theatre of the war till the war ended. This promise I made to myself because the intensity of the mortaring and and artillery, which I experienced that evening in Asaba my hometown, convinced me that this was a total war and not a police action….’’
A Second Republic lawmaker, Dr. Junaid Mohammed, has exposed alleged cabals and ills in President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.
The Northern elder statesman has also accused Buhari of being lopsided in appointments thereby placing his family members, Mamman Daura’s relatives in ministerial positions and other appointments.
According to him, Mamman Daura is the president of cabals in Buhari’s administration
Mohammed in an interview with Guardian said, “It is so unfortunate that Buhari and the cabals have found themselves in the same shoes as their predecessors and it will end in tragedy.
“I say so because those urging them to remain perpetually in power are not doing so because they like them. And even though Buhari has surrounded himself in a very nepotic way by ensuring that all the major appointments were given to his in-laws, nephews and cousins, but I can assure you that when the chips are down, he would be left to cry all by himself.
“When I started talking about the cabal over two years ago, many Nigerians, some of them with the best but naive intentions, thought there was no such thing as cabals. But there is a cabal. Because Buhari has been out of government for many years, he has not been able to update his knowledge in terms of development and events in and outside the country. And because of this and in my own estimation, we now have the least competent, the most isolated, most divisive and arrogant leader in the history of Nigeria. And in a country that is so complex and not so cohesive, this is clearly a disaster, which is where we are heading.
“Right now, nobody doubts that there is a cabal. The de facto president of the country from May 29, 2015 has been one joker called Mamman Daura, who was a one-time Managing Director of the defunct New Nigerian newspapers. He is the head of the cabal and the de-facto president, because there have been instances when the president would give an instruction, he would undermine the instruction and nothing would happen. There have been times policy decisions or appointments would be made and his lackeys – Abba Kyari, the president’s chief of staff, the former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) Babachir Lawal, who was appointed against all odds, but who remained there because he was in the cabal’s good books, will tamper with it. We all knew how he diverted donor monies belonging to international donor agencies, until they told Buhari in no uncertain terms that he had to be punished. But the others like Mamman Daura and Abba Kyari are sitting tight and taking decisions for you and me, as well as all Nigerians.
“None of them was elected and though Kyari has a letter of appointment as chief of staff, Mamman Daura does not have a single letter indicating that he is whatever he is, but how he came about exercising such enormous powers is what nobody knows.
“There are ministers who have been appointed not because they have any qualifications but because they are related to Buhari. The Aviation minister, Hadi Seriki is his elder sister’s son. Amina Zakari, who works in the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) representing the seven states of the northwest zone was appointed even before Buhari came into power through mago mago. It is left to the former president Goodluck Jonathan to tell us how she became national commissioner in INEC. Then there is the minister of Interior, Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd.) who was born and bred in Zaria. Somehow, and in a typical arrogant and abuse of power, he was turned into a Kano man and given a ministerial appointment, which constitutionally should have been given to a person who grew up in Kano State. Yet, Kano is the only political base Buhari has.
“There are several others. The State House chief of protocol is a son-in-law to Mamman Daura, who is President Buhari’s nephew. Ordinarily, the position should have been given to a senior ambassador. The president’s chief personal security officer is Mamman Daura’s younger brother. Another State personal security officer is another relation of theirs. The ADC to the president is a son-in-law to them. Do you know that the S.A to Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the S.A to the junior minister of petroleum resources are Mamman Daura and Buhari’s daughters respectively?
“This is an update of what I started saying two years ago. They now have their sons, daughters, sons-in-laws and nephews as beneficiaries of the appointments made so far. Now, among the people in the cabal, but very powerful and not known is someone called Tunde, originally called Sabiu Yusuf. He is the son of Mamman Daura’s immediate younger sister. He is, today, P.A to the President, even though he has never worked for one day in his life. But a P.A job is normally the work of a full-blown director or a permanent secretary. That boy only got married last year and as I speak to you now, he is one of the billionaires in Nigeria today. Nobody of his age has the kind of money that boy has. So, can that be justified?
“If they are going to treat this country as if it was conquered by them and or by their families, you can imagine what the picture would look like, if Buhari were to be given a second term and how they are going to use our resources and how they are going to abuse power.
“Mamman Daura’s daughter, who is married to one of the Dantatas, is the S.A to the CBN governor. Then Buhari’s sister’s son is also an S.A to Kachikwu, the junior minister of petroleum resources. The chief personal security officer to the president, DCP Abdulkarim Dauda is Mamman Daura’s younger brother. The chief security officer (CSO) Col Bashir Abubakar is also married into the family. The State chief of protocol, Lawal Kazaure, who has not reached the rank of an ambassador, is also married to Mamman Daura’s eldest daughter. I mentioned earlier that the P.A to the President, Sabiu Yusuf Tunde, who is in his 20’s, is one of the wealthiest 20-year-olds in Nigeria. He is also the son of Mamman Daura’s immediate younger sister. She herself is a niece to Buhari. And that is how the country is being governed.
“The national commissioner at INEC is Buhari’s niece. In addition, her husband, who used to be a manager in UBA, died. Now when an opportunity arose, they went and picked the late husband’s younger brother and made him Director General of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). He is Brig Gen Zakari from Kazaure in Jigawa State.
Mohammed further speaking on clamour for Buhari’s re-election in 2019 said he was not surprised.
“Personally, I am not surprised that there is clamour for President Muhammadu Buhari to continue and contest in the 2019 poll. Anyone involved in this country’s politics knows that there is absolutely nothing new there.
“Every president we’ve had in this country, every heads of government, as well as heads of state have been told they were special persons, that nobody else can govern the country, and as such they should continue, as such without them, the country couldn’t move on. I am not surprised it is happening to Buhari and I am not surprised he is putting his personal ambition over and above the country’s interest.
The bubble blew two days ago and we all came out to take orders and assume various command roles. It was then that it was announced that the General has reshuffled responsibilities having decided to change guard & roles now as an ancestor.
What a triumphant change of guard? I was ‘corrupted’ too early concerning the Biafran history by my father. Apart from the main Hero of the struggle- Dim Gen Ojukwu whom he regarded as a comet, two other names that stuck to my memory at the age of six were Gen Achuzia & the young Onwuatuegwu. You can appreciate how I felt when I was invited to a meeting at the Igbozurume unity centre by October 2012 to meet the man who had become a meteor & an enigma of a sort to the Biafran people. He sat on the chair and was introduced as Col Achuzia.
I had attended the meeting with my kindred spirit Evang. Joseph Agbo who lost his emotion when he almost injured the General as he embraced him amidst tear of joy & shouting. The Gen was calm & appreciative of our encomiums. Consequently he called us to his office upstairs for a relationship that would blossom up till now. We swiftly booked an appointment for his country home ASaba.
Ever since, it has become a voyage. It was this meeting that saw to the usage of Igbozurume unity hall for the colloquium and the formation of ADF. It was this same meeting that birthed my joining the train of the attendees of the court case that was filed at Owerre seeking for Biafra independence. From that period till now, I have cause to write volume on the Air Raid. For this reason, I will mention about three. First I have never seen a loyal friend as him. He had told me how he met Gen Ojukwu at Kings college Lagos & how Ojukwu’s relocation to London forced him to go to London also. On one occasion when I told him that he should no longer be addressed as a colonel, he agreed only on the condition that Dim Ojukwu will be addressed as a Field Marshal as he would never share the same rank with his commander that he would always address as Emeka. He described Dim Ojukwu’s passage as a change of guard. He equally told me that it was ‘Emeka’s’ influence that made him to take the Olinzele title of Ikemba.
Second, it was Gen Achuzia who assured me that Biafra was never defeated in the war, hence the no victor, no vanquished end of the war. I then asked him about his role & involvement in the war as a field officer & His alleged invincibility. He told me that the genocide meted to Asaba people on October 12, 1967 apart from his relationship with Dim Ojukwu and the killing of the omu Asaba at the time were all the sources of motivation for his exploits.
After the death of the Omu, he had to perform the traditional rites of becoming invincible by invoking the ‘gods’ of Asaba to guide his revenge of the pogrom of Asaba people. The gods answered him. The third thing that I want to remember him for was what transpired during the preparation of the Igbozurume report for the Okoronmu panel. The Igbozurume had wanted to write its own paper and the Gen came to the unity centre. The preparation of the paper took more time than required such that we were all awake until 3 am & he was making his inputs.
He could not take his bath & was there the following day until the presentation of the report at Villa Toscana hotel Enugu. I had entreated him to go home especially as he was not feeling so well but he calmly told be that he would rather die on duty than going home for people to stop us from presenting the report which would have been so without his presence. What a patriot! I recall on one of the visits when I had gone to his Asaba residence with Bishop Dr Obi Onubuogu to discuss certain issues on behalf of ADF, Onubuogu being one of Gen Ojukwu’s ADCs, they relished the good old history of the war.
This change of guard is a fulfilled one. You can see how Biafrans all over the world are celebrating your triumphant transformation. You will continue to live in our hearts.
May you find befitting helpers in the great beyond. Enyi ooo, Enyi anaa 3rice.
Chetakwamu Gen Ojukwu, Effiong, Onwuatuegwu, Achuzia etc
Below is the letter addressed to Senator Abaribe from ADF
IGBO POSITION ON THE CURRENT POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN NIGERIA
1. Let me first thank you for inviting me to the recent meeting you organized in Lagos on
the subject of Igbo Position on the Current Political Developments in Nigeria.
2. I am happy you accepted the suggestion I made that the meeting should observe one
minute silence in memory of the millions of Umuigbo who have lost their lives since
1914 in the turbulent existence of Ndigbo in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I made this
suggestion to underscore the solemnity of the current discourse of the future of Ndigbo
and the future of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Having said all these, please permit me to make the following observations on the
exercise you are presiding over:
3. When you began your opening address, you made reference to “Ndigbo”, who you
otherwise referred to as “Ndi South-East”. In my comment, I did point out, my dear
Senator, that “South-East” is only a part of Alaigbo. Alaigbo extends to Anioma,
Ikwerre (and Port Harcourt) in Rivers State. Some are also aware that there are Igbospeaking
peoples in Benue State.
4. The Igbo Position and Igbo National Interests
At this stage of the struggle for survival of Umuigbo and others, we should be speaking
of Alaigbo as a whole, making every effort to re-unite Alaigbo and enhance our national
integration, identity and consciousness.
As a result of the intensity of the national struggle, it is strongly dawning on most people
that the main source of the instability of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the fact that
autonomous nationalities were artificially lumped together into a Federal Republic
without any regard to their separateness and their wishes.
All through the history of Nigeria, two things have clearly demonstrated again and
again, the reality that we are separate nations. Please disregard the archaic European
anthropological appellation of ‘tribe’ to Africa nations. Those two things are the
following –
i. The greatest heroes in the Nigerian history are leaders of the Ethnic
Nationalities – and these include: –
Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, the leader and hero of the Fulani
Nation.
Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the leader and hero of the Yoruba Nation,
Alhaji Aminu Kano, the leader and hero of the Hausa Nation
Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the leader and hero of the Igbo Nation.
Mr. Joseph Tarka, leader and hero of the Tiv Nation,
Isaac Boro, the leader and hero of the Ijaw Nation,
Ken Saro-Wiwa, the hero of the Ijaw Nation, etc. etc.
The case of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, and Sir Tafawa Balewa, were somehow different.
Both of them sincerely worked under the illusion that Federalism can override Ethnic
Nationalism in the conduct of the affairs of a multi-national Federation.
ii. In a multi-National Society such as Nigeria, politics is ultimately struggle,
not among individuals, but among the nationalities that make up the multinational
society. It is not even a struggle among political parties in the final
analysis. ‘Tribalism’ or ‘Ethnic Nationality’ are European anthropological
concepts used to refer to nations in Africa and other non-European societies,
while ‘Nation’ instead of ‘tribe’ or ‘ethnic nationality’ is applied to similar
European societies. Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, Tiv, Ijaw etc, are nations
like English, Scotland, French, Germany, Russia, etc.
In other words, the Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Fulani, etc., are separate nations
with distinct languages, cultures, interests, loyalties, etc.
All through colonial d post-colonial history of Nigeria, the Fulani nation have sustained
their dominance over the rest, not only because of the privileged position the British
carved out for them in the affairs of the Nigerian Republic, but because their feudal
order have remained a major bulwark in their politics. They have systematically
exploited cultural and religious factors, and even family order in sustaining their preeminence
within the whole political and economic equation in Nigeria. The North is
virtually under the ruler-ship and domination of one Fulani family.
The Yoruba Nation has gone very far in sustaining and putting their solid national
consciousness to immense political advantage, next to the Fulani. They have used to
maximum effect the spirit of their progenitor Oduduwa and the spirit of their next in the
order of their national pantheon, Awolowo, into great use in the political struggle in
Nigeria. Today, when you talk of Yoruba or summon a gathering of Yoruba, those in
Kwara and Kogi anxiously and proudly identify.
As for Ndigbo, I know that the major assault of the enemy after the loss of Biafra was
the weapon of dismembering the common identity of Ndigbo. Almost three thousand
men and youth in Asaba were massacred because they were Umuigbo – the relations of
Nzeogwu and Ojukwu.
In this era of Rebuilding and Development of Alaigbo, our success and survival will
depend on achieving a high level of Igbo National INTEGRATION &
CONSCIOUSNESS. That should be our priority today, taking a cue from the Fulani and
the Yoruba.
Dear Senator, it was in the light of the forgoing that I asked why your Committee did not
think it wise to schedule Asaba and Port Harcourt for purposes of consulting our kitsand-kin
in those States. I ask again WHERE IS ANIOMA, WHERE IS IKWERRE AND
WHERE ARE OTHERS WHO BELONG TO OUR RACE in the Nigerian Federation?
Is there any mechanism or process for consulting millions of Umuigbo – our brothers and
sisters – in the diaspora? We know there are several organizations of Umuigbo in the
diaspora; are we not consulting them?
5. Elders not being carried along in the crucial search for the Future of Ndigbo at this
critical time:
Dear Senator, I expressed great surprise that none of the Igbo Elders were being carried along in
this crucial exercise. Such a meeting was holding in Lagos but Admiral Ndubusi Kanu was not
there; Ebitu Ukiwe, Chief Pascal Dozie, Capt. Emmanuel Ihanacho, Dr Emma Eleazu, Prof Anya O.
Anya, Admiral Allison Madueke, Amb Anyaoku, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, as well as several other
key Igbo leaders, including many in business and politics, were not there. And you are talking of
having come to Lagos to consult Umuigbo on the Future of Alaigbo in Nigeria!!!
The same thing happened when you came to Abuja, The meeting was held in a private home and
many people did not know about it.
5. No working Document or even a Template for the Crucial Consultation:
The most curious observation on the exercise being conducted by your Committee is that there is no
Report or Working Document produced by the Committee set up by the Ohanaeze leadership under
the chairmanship of Prof. Chigozie Ogbu. In announcing the commencement of your assignment
you state and I quote:
“I was appointed as Chairman of the Agenda/Programme (Restructuring) sub-committee of
Ohaneze with a specific mandate to produce a draft of Igbo position on restructuring.
(Note the emphasis on RESTRUCTURING)
You went further to explain:
“In carrying out this assignment we reasoned that to start the discussions there should be a
starting point. On advice from eminent people like Amb George Obiozor, we decided that
the Igbo Position at the 2014 Political Conference should form the basis of our interaction
with our people in Abuja, Lagos and Enugu…So the draft is nothing but Ndigbo position at
the 2014 National Conference which of course could be jettisoned if we do wish”.
Dear Senator, according to you, your mandate is
i. to conduct consultation on Restructuring, period.
ii. That the Igbo Position at the 2014 Political Conference should form the basis of
your Committee’s interaction with our people in Abuja, Lagos and Enugu.
Dear Senator, you must have observed that majority of the people who have commented on your
exercise have expressed so much embarrassment that the Ogbu-led Committee was unable to
produce any report or working document, and the document given to you as a basis for consultation
is the badly “badly flawed” document, to use Senator Chris Anyanwu’s phrase in qualifying the
Igbo Position submitted to the 2014 Jonathan’s National Conference.
The document is out of tune with the realities of today. Does it mean that Ndigbo are incapable of
producing a draft document for our broad discussion on our future at this time? The Yoruba, the
South-South and the Middle Belt with whom we are in consultation had position which they
presented to the Jonathan Conference and none of them is basing their current stand on such
documents.
. .
In summary on this point, it is our stand that since the draft is nothing but Ndigbo position at
the 2014 National Conference, and is indeed out of tune in the light of the challenges of the
moment, it should be jettisoned.
6. Mandate of the Committee is Restructuring or Nothing:
Your Committee was set up and given a specific mandate to produce a draft of Igbo Position
on Restructuring. From this, it is obvious that the mandate of your Committee is to dwell on
Restructuring, no more no less. Given this mandate of your Committee and the entire
exercise being conducted by Ohanaeze leadership, there appears to be a Script on which the
present Ohanaeze leadership is acting. It is a script authored not in the interest of Ndigbo at
this critical exercise.
7. The Memorandum On the Future of Ndigbo submitted to Chief Nnia Nwodo, the
President of Ohaneze Ndigbo requesting to present it to Ime-Obi Ohanaeze Ndigbo.
On January 10, 2018, the Alaigbo Development Foundation(ADF) forwarded to you a
Memorandum on the Future of Alaigbo in the Fedral Republic of Nigeria , and I quote the covering note.
“Dear President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Ike Ukehe,
Greetings
When we (ADF Team) visited you last time, I did inform you that the Alaigbo
Development Foundation (ADF) was working on a document that would address
the current debate on the future of Alaigbo and the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
with particular reference to the issues of Restructuring, Nigeria and Biafra.
I forward to you copy of what may be regarded as the First Edition of the
Memorandum and request you to summon a meeting of Ime-Obi Ohanaeze for
ADF leadership to present and defend the position as articulated in the
document.
We refer to this version of the Memo. as First Edition because the views
expressed at Ime-Obi will be taken into account in the final edition of the
document.
At the moment we are making the document available to other pan-Igbo
organizations and other compatriots and collating their views which shall be
taken into consideration in the final edition.
This exercise is our modest contribution in the current debate and search for a
safe and honorable future for our beleaguered Alaigbo and her citizens.
The main text is accompanied by an Outline.
Prof. Uzodinma Nwala
ADF President”
Chief Nwodo did nether acknowledge this letter and the attached Memorandum nor invite ADF to
Ime-Obi as requested. The Ogbu-led Committee has never made reference to the document. Here
there is goodwill and candor, ADF should have been invited by the Committee. In all the
deliberation of the Abaribe Committee no reference has been made to the ADF Memo. I do not
want to dwell much on this experience.
But I would like to end comment on it with an anecdote
In those days (I believe in the sixties), the Local Government Compound of Okpula Ngwa
had one of the best and most attractive Local Government Buildings in Eastern Nigeria. The Ngwa
people were so proud of it and expressed this in a popular proverb.
“Ta onye ngafere Okpuala Ngwa leghi anya nazu, la olu ndaraya ahu’
Anyone who passes the premises of the Okpula Ngwa Local Government and does not look
back just to once more appreciate its beauty, then that person must have a problem with his
neck.
Such cavalier treatment given to a document many Umuigbo have eulogized as a great visionary
document agbaghi aka.
Dear Senator, given the fact that both the Constitutional and Structural foundations of THE
Republic has collapsed, what is indeed required today at this crucial moment are -:
i. A RENEGOTIATION of the basis for the continued existence of the Nigerian
Federation and
ii. A Clear Vision of the Future of Ndigbo within or outside the Nigerian Federal
Republic.
This conclusion is inevitable in the light of all that have been stated above.
8. Our Internal Political Weakness and The Failure of Igbo Office holders
Senator, Chris Ngige made the point which a good number of people keep rehearsing,
namely, that Ndigbo are to blame for their predicament in Nigeria. He like others blame
ourselves and argue that we are our own nemesis. He cited the fact that we have held the
offices of the Vice President, Senate President, Secretary to the Government of the
Federation, Key Ministerial positions (Finance, Defense, External Affairs, etc,) and yet we
are shouting marginalization. Well said but,
To understand the political environment under which Ndigbo held such positions, take a
look at the office of the Senate President which about five Igbo Senators held like a musical
chair. For a given period, they were being shuffled like children’s game.
The truth is that the power equation in Nigeria has always been controlled and manipulated
by the forces of the prevailing hegemony and their agents. This is why many have insisted
that an Igbo President under the given circumstances will be an exercise in frustration,
except for the tiny minority of those that may hanker and succeed in getting appointed to
one political position or another, or given one contract or the other. The Igbo nation will
continue to remain a nation in captivity.
The same goes for the blame we heap on our elected Governors, especially on their political
weakness and inability to take firm positions in defense of their people. The truth is that
these brothers are operating in a most oppressive political environment. They have to go to
one Emir or one Fulani political heavy weight to get their due allocation to run their State;
they depend on a Fulani controlled-INEC for their election victory; they have to depend on
the Northern-controlled Judiciary for the validation of their election victory; they have to
depend on the Fulani-controlled Police, NSS, DSS, to enforce security in their states; they
can’t even protect their youth who are harassed by all manner of repressive state apparatus
nor can they defend their people when they are butchered by the AK-47-wielding Fulani
terrorists.
So, their political leaders are powerless to defend them when they are in trouble. The only
thing they have around them are toothless internet warriors who operate in various
platforms, many of who are sponsored by the slave-masters.
Fayose is operating in a different political environment from the Igbo Governor. Governor
Ortom was in the same political vulnerability like his Igbo counterparts the other day. He
was always in pains, watching helplessly as his blood relations were butchered like animals.
But as soon as his people ringed themselves around him, not as internet warriors, but
standing solidly firm, leaders, students, women and youth, Governor Ortom became first a
patriot, then a radical and today he is a revolutionary standing firm on those measures which
have now begun to wedge the reckless onslaught again at his people. Now, he has become
another Fayose.
We can produce our own Fayose our Otom in Alaigbo once some of our office-holders with
conscience find that they have the people standing by them as a powerful pillar on which
they can lean on in ties of political travail. But the greatest guarantee of all these is a
renegotiation for a radically new political order, without masters and slaves, a political order
standing on the altar of self-determination, freedom and self-reliance.
The Memorandum of the Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) on the Future of Alaigbo
and the Future of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is a visionary document. It is addressed to
the Igbo nation and it is also addressed to other nationalities in Nigeria some of who are now
astir and provoked by the ferocity of the forces of hegemony that have divided and
manipulated them in the past.
Let us ask the question, why did the Ohanaeze President ignore the ADF Memorandum?
Senator Abaribe did not even mention it even though he got a copy during the Handshake
event in Enugu and I sent a soft copy before the Lagos meeting. The ADF Secretary also
distributed over four dozen copies in the course of the Lagos meeting and personally handed
a copy to Senator Abaribe.
Then consider the authorship of the document. If anyone could ignore such a document
under such circumstances in meeting summoned to discourse the Igbo position, then it is
tragic.
Once more the ADF position is a Visionary Document for today and for tomorrow. It is
addressed to our people and their neighbors facing the same existential threat like them.
Finally on the Igbo Position.
We in the Alaigbo Development Foundation (ADF) wish to reiterate what we stated in an
earlier letter to Senator Abaribe and copied the Ohanaeze President, Chief Nwodo, and I
quite:
8
8
“The solution to the present political quagmire in the Federal Republic of Nigeria is beyond
Constitutional Amendment, It is beyond the powers of the National Assembly or the
Executive. It requires a Political Conference in which the various nationalities will
determine those who represent them in such a political conference. The outcome of their
deliberations will be subject to a National Referendum”.
Our advice, therefore, dear Senator, is for you and your team to ask various organized
groups of Umuigbo to present their thoughts as working papers which can be discussed and
out of which an Igbo Position can be distilled. The Elders and Statesmen in Alaigbo cannot
be ignored is such an exercise. If there is spirit of candor and genuine commitment to the
cause of our people, the ADF document is an adequate Working Document we can review
for the purpose.
The Challenge in Nigeria today is how to redefine the relationship among the various
NATIONS that make it up as a Federation, This cannot be done within the confines of the
existing highly flawed 1999 Constitution.
Thanks.
