BIAFRA v NIGERIA- MATTERS ARISING FROM THE LEGACIES OF BIAFRA CONFERENCE HELD IN LONDON: BARRISTER EMEKA EMEKESIRI PROFFERS THE SOLUTION TO THE BIAFRA-NIGERIA CONUNDRUM
The Legacies of Biafra Conference held at SOAS of the University of London 21 – 22 April 2017 has been described as very successful. Please find attached the Lecture delivered by Barrister Emeka Emekesiri at the event. The Conference has thrown up certain matters which the Biafrans have been advised to attend to in their quest for self-determination. At the moment, two ideological differences have emerged, namely:
1. The first ideological strategy is the pursuit of self-determination by due process of law consisting of legal, political and diplomatic methods. By this methodology, the core Biafran activists are advised to take over the political power in the whole of Biafraland and put Biafran activists in the Government Houses and Houses of Assembly. With their millions of activists they can use their vote to put any of the Biafran activists in power. They can then pass the Biafran Bills into Law in their Houses of Assembly and create the Biafran Government by Law at regional level first. This is the first stage of the Struggle for Independence. The second stage is for the Biafrans then to decide by a Referendum whether they will pull out entirely from Nigeria and gain total independence or continue to govern themselves as Biafrans within Nigeria. At the first and second stages of the strategy, there will be some diplomatic meetings and negotiations with the Nigerian authorities and the powerful countries in the International Community for the final pull-out. This strategy is advocated by Barrister Emeka Emekesiri, the Solicitor for Indigenous People of Biafra and the vision bearer of the legal methodology of self-determination which he commenced with the case between Biafra and Nigeria in the Federal High Court Owerri. To lay a proper foundation for this strategy, the vision bearer and those who believe in this method have activated the political structure called MOBIN (Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria) in alliance with the United Progressive Party (UPP) which they have adopted as the Biafran National Party just as the Scottish activists have the SNP in the British politics advocating for the Independence of Scotland. The challenge the Biafrans have now is to install hardcore Biafran activists in power who can use the State Power to their advantage and speed up the Biafran project.
2. The second ideological strategy is the boycotting of the elections in Biafraland and abstaining from all involvements with the Nigerian politics and law. The proponents of this methodology believe that the Nigerian Constitution is fraudulent and therefore every election under the fraudulent Constitution is a continuation of enslavement in Nigeria. They do not believe in obtaining self-governance as Biafrans within Nigeria first before pulling out from Nigeria entirely. Those who believe in this method said that if the Biafrans boycott the elections, abstain from the Nigerian politics and resist the fraudulent Constitution, Biafra would come. They have not explained how Biafra would come but they sincerely believe that Biafra would come by divine intervention if we boycott the elections. They have no answer or solution or clearly defined methodology to achieve Biafra but believe that God will cause Biafra to come by miracle if we boycott the elections, census and voters registration going on in Biafraland now.
Two figures have emerged with these ideological differences. The first figure advocating legal, political and diplomatic strategies is Barrister Emeka Emekesiri while the second figure advocating the boycotting of politics, elections and rejection of legal method is Mazi Nnamdi Kanu. Barr Emekesiri has explained that there are three ways of getting independence for a nation, namely: (a) Military method, that is, war and violence; (b) Political method, that is, engaging in politics and passing the Bill of Referendum or Bill of Independence into law and creating the new nation by law; (c) Judicial method, that is, by using the powers of the Court (national or international court) to declare the peoples right to self-determination and carving out their territory by Court Order. It was by the Order of the International Court of Justice that Bakassi was carved out from Nigeria and given over to Cameroon.
The Biafrans were told to boycott the elections in 2015 by the Radio Biafra broadcaster so that Biafra would come but Biafra did not come. The boycott made President Goodluck Jonathan to lose the election to General Mohammadu Buhari. We are now crying for allowing the Moslems to take over power with which they persecute us today. Also the Biafrans were told to boycott the census in 2006 by Ralph Uwazuruike and now we have become the minority region in the official records held by the world bodies for Nigeria.
All the Biafrans are free to choose the method they want to believe and follow. They don’t have to attack one another. Any person who is interested in identifying with this cause by the rule of law consisting of legal, political and diplomatic methods is advised to reply this email and confirm his or her acceptance. The person is advised to contact MOBIN Directors by email at mobinbiafra@protonmail.com; or mobin.freebiafra@gmail.com; or visit their website at www.mobin.ng
There is no need for the Biafrans to quarrel among themselves. We have decided to re-organize the movement and re-strategise for the final battle of wits. It is now the battle of the brains. Much noise has been made. Time of noise-making is over. The noise-making was good and has served its purpose in creating much awareness. We believe that we will beat the Nigerians in their own game just as we have beaten them in the Federal High Court Owerri where they have no good defence. The Solicitor has informed us that the case in Court has legalized the Biafran Struggle and purchased judicial immunity for all the Biafrans. While the case is pending in Court, the Biafrans have the right to govern themselves under Customary Law until they pass the Biafran Bill into law in any of the Houses of Assembly in Biafraland to create a statutory Government of Biafra at regional level.
Any person who has not got a copy of the Lecture delivered by Barrister Emeka Emekesiri at the University of London is advised to write to Indigenous People of Biafra by email to ipobiafra@yahoo.com and request for a copy. In the Lecture, he proffered the best solution to the Biafra-Nigeria conundrum. This is another formula he has invented to solve national problems just like the other formulae he has created in Nigeria including the formula for the Petroleum Industry Bill currently before the National Assembly which the Northerners have opposed.
Further to the releases on the golden jubilee celebration of Biafra declaration ,the Customary Government has announced tomorrow being 30th May as Cultural Day of mourning .
Biafrans across the globe are advised to see every 30th May as a day of mourning all those who died while fighting for Biafra freedom in line with our Customary laws.
THE RESPONSE OF THE CUSTOMARY GOVERNMENT OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLE OF BIAFRA CG-IPOB TO THE INCIDENT IN ABAKALIKI , EBONYI STATE BIAFRA(NIGERIA).
The Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra (CG-IPOB) is shocked to hear that one of the peaceful activities organized by the Director of Political Education and Governance of Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria (MOBIN) – Evangelist Joe Agbo was disrupted by a bunch of thugs suspected to have been sent by the Governor of Ebonyi State – Gov Umahi. The event was to mark Evangelist Agbo 50th birthday celebration which coincided with 50th anniversary of declaration of independent state of Biafra by Gen. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the Peoples General and hero’s day in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State.
We wish to raise an alarm for the introduction of this cankerworm and remind Gov Umahi that during the South Sudanese war of independence, President Al Bashir of Sudan, used some South Sudanese thugs called Janjaweeds militia (men on horse) to terrorize the southern Sudanese towns and villages, killing their people, burning houses, raping women and girls, and looting wherever they attacked. Since the activation of this sickly innovation, the lives of Southern Sudanese have never been the same. Today, fraternal war has continued to devastate that young nation years after independence.
The event of 27th May 2017 at Abakaliki Ebonyi State Biafra(Nigeria) has initiated a new dimension in Biafran struggle for restoration of sovereignty, where Governor Umahi used thugs to disrupt a peaceful but legal activity of Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria (MOBIN) in Biafra land.
The Customary Government of indigenous people of Biafra (CG-IPOB) wishes therefore to alert the world of the emergent of this new but highly obnoxious innovation which if not condemned and checked by all peaceful people of the world can chart a new route to the ‘South Sudanese experiment’ in Biafra. The Customary Government therefore condemn in totality the introduction by Ebonyi state Government of this dangerous move into the indigenous people of Biafras’ peaceful approach to freedom.The Customary Government is equally appealing to all peaceful people of the world to rise up and condemn this recent move by Nigerian government of occupation to introduce the South Sudanese experience into Biafra land.
It is very regrettable that Ebonyi State Governor, Mr. Umahi could allow himself to be used as a willing tool to set into operation this dangerous trend of instigating a brother against his brother inside Biafra land. We wish to remind him that setting brother against his fellow brother in Biafra cannot be allowed and tolerated in whatever form or means. The world cannot afford to have another South Sudan in West Africa. The leaders of peaceful world should therefore rise up in total condemnation of this beastiality in Governance in Biafra land.
The Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra cannot accept Gov Umahi’s explanation that Abuja was not comfortable with the conference ,and that DSS mounted pressure on him to stop the event.That explanation was unintelligent as the same conference on Biafra was allowed in Musa Yarudua Centre, Abuja few days ago where the Vice President spoke on Biafra. If DSS was interested in stopping the conference in Abakiliki as opined by Gov Umahi , why using Government agent led by Mark Onu to disrupt the event? Is DSS afraid to invite the organizers of the event for interrogation? Customary Govt of IPOB wishes to put it on record that should anything happen the Evangelist Joe Agbo,a preacher , an academia and an activist per excellence , Gov Umahi will have the entire Biafra people to confront.The battle line has been drawn and going forward ,we shall view Ebonyi state as the seat of Government of occupation .
CG- IPOB wishes to thank all Biafrans for their resolve to remain peaceful and non-violent in this struggle for freedom despite all provocation by the agents of Nigerian Government of occupation. It is our fundamental human rights to be free as a people. It is our inalienable rights as indigenous people created by God to be allowed to live and manage our affairs unhindered by anybody in free world of democracy and freedom. We cannot continue to be caged and fettered in a world that proclaim liberty to all men of God.Biafrans have the right to enjoy freedom like any other human being created by God.
The Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra ,once again call on all Biafrans to remain law abiding throughout this period of celebration to remember our departed Heroes who died defending this land that we may live.
Freedom to Biafra! Freedom to indigenous people of Biafra! Freedom to all who desire it!
Thank you.
Aniebue Anthony. The Administrator , Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra CG-IPOB
Please below is the speech of the President of Ohanaze Ndigbo Chief Nnia Nwodo Jnr at the Yar Adua center on 50 years of Biafra. The Acting President Prof Yemi Osinbajo and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo were guests.
50 YEARS AFTER BIAFRA: REFLECTIONS AND HOPES
PROTOCOLS:
1. I am grateful to Shehu Musa Yar Adua Foundation, Ford Foundation and OSIWA – the co-sponsors of this event for your kind invitation. I commend your foresight in convening this conference, the first major conference discussing Biafra outside of Igboland. Nigeria. In hosting this conference the Yar’Adua Centre, which is best known for promoting national cohesion, honours the legacy of a great patriot: Shehu Musa Yar Adua. He died building bridges of understanding across our nation. I salute his family and associates for sustaining the legacy of Shehu through the works of this Foundation.
2. It is significant that you have chosen to harvest sober memories of Biafra. By so doing, you help us to wisely situate today’s talks of Biafra in the proper context: namely, as an opportunity for nation building; and not – as an invitation for invectives or recrimination.
3. 50 years ago, Nigeria faced disintegration by the declaration of the Republic of Biafra. Biafra was born out of the political crisis which engulfed Nigeria at that time. The crisis began with the struggle for leadership in the Western Region of Nigeria, the declaration of state of emergency in the West, the coup of January 1966, the counter coup of July 1966, the pogroms, the declaration of Biafra and the commencement of a police action that turned into a three years civil war.
4. I hope that our gathering today may contribute to the body of knowledge or body of lessons from the war. Lest we forget, there is wisdom in the words of George Santayana that: those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it. That is why I thank you for the chance for us to collectively remember, reflect, hope and seek ways to build anew.
5. My most heartfelt reflection is that in the Nigeria-Biafra conflict, we can and should acknowledge the sacrifice – in blood, suffering and toil – by millions of citizens on both sides of that divide. They shared a common hope for their sacrifice: namely, that out of that war, we shall build a nation where no man is oppressed. The only difference was that for one side, Nigeria was that nation. For the other it was Biafra.
6. Let us spare a thought for every victim of that conflict and the crises before that: the leaders and the soldiers, ordinary men, women and children. Each one loved life; had hopes and dreamt dreams. They died prematurely and often, painfully.
7. For those of us that survived the war and others who came afterwards, we are both heirs to the sacrifices of fallen brethren. Let us commit ourselves today and always to their hopes for peace and justice. Anytime that we are violent, anytime that we are unjust in the exercise of our public trust, anytime we lower the ideals of this nation, we betray them; and we act as if they died in vain. As we honour their memory, today my worry is not only about the rising feeling of marginalization of Igbos or any other group but that our nation may emerge from this conflict a more united and prosperous country.
8. At the end of the war, in spite of a policy of no victor no vanquished by the Government of General Yakubu Gowon, an unconscionable policy of impoverishment of Biafrans was unleashed by the federal government. Every bank deposit of Biafrans that had encountered a transaction whether by deposit or withdrawal was reduced to £20. Massive savings were completely wiped out. Capacity for investment and recovery from the war was shattered. Whilst this poverty pervaded, the Indigenisation Decree was promulgated enabling other Nigerians, except Biafrans to acquire commanding heights in the indigenised companies which held at that time the critical and commanding heights of Nigeria’s private economy.
9. Nevertheless, on the issue of reconciliation, we must give due credit to the resilience of the people from the war affected areas and the generosity of millions of other Nigerians that opened their hearts and homes to their friends and neighbours that were victims of war. In many ways, it was by these incredible citizen to citizen relationships that Nigeria achieved one of the most remarkable post-conflict people to people reconciliation and reintegration in modern times.
10. Before the war national unity was the norm. A Biafran was a member of Northern Nigeria House of Chiefs. Biafrans lived freely and invested in all parts of Nigeria. In Lagos Dr Azikiwe was elected leader of Government Business. Mbonu Ojike was elected Deputy Speaker. In Enugu Alhaji Umoru Altine, a Fulani man was elected Mayor of Enugu. Mr Willougby a Yoruba man, was Accountant General.
11. On the economic front, the economy was buoyant. Import substitution industries grew rapidly and were more profitable. In the North, groundnut production and export fuelled economic growth. Textile industries flourished, agriculture boomed. Ahmadu Bello University thrived with outstanding international reputation.
12. In Lagos and the entire Western Region growth was phenomenal. Cocoa was a dependable foreign exchange earner. Cement, soft drinks, rubber, beer, soap and other import substitution industries grew phenomenally. Lagos, Ibadan and Ife housed universities of world standards. The first television station in black Africa was built. The first stadium in Nigeria was also built in the West.
13. In the Eastern Region palm produce grew the Eastern economy. Coal was mined and exported. Beer, cement, cashew nuts, tyres, aluminium, steel and soft drink factories grew rapidly. University of Nigeria was built and run by Americans.
14. Reflecting on 50 years after the Nigeria-Biafra conflict, it would seem to me that we have made very elaborate efforts: constitutional, political and administrative to ensure a united Nigeria. We must not shy away from giving our nation its due credit, after all, some other societies with challenges like ours did not fare as well as we did.
15. However, we should not rest on our oars. Unity is not an end in itself; and ultimately, the best way to sustain our unity is to apply it to achieve a higher objective; namely, nation building.
16. Our political system is jaundiced, unfair, exploitative and unsustainable. Since attainment of independence the civilians have not been able to agree on a political structure. Our present constitution and the previous 1979 constitution were impositions of the military – an unrepresentative and dictatorial corps whose decrees were seriously influenced by the lop-sidedness of their composition.
17. The economic and development data from Nigeria is unencouraging in many sectors. Our law and order system including the police, the court system and the penal system has been characterised by impunity, incompetence and indiscipline.
18. On the global Terrorism Index Nigeria ranks 3rd after Iraq and Afghanistan and ahead of Pakistan and Syria. The World Economic Forum ranks Nigeria 127 out of 138 on the Global Competitiveness Index. The UNESCO ranks Nigeria with Chad, Pakistan and Ethiopia as the worst educational system in the world. Nigeria, according to the report, has the highest number of children out of school and one of the world’s worst education systems due to a combination of corruption, conflict and lack of investment. In the Human Development Index of the United Nations Development Program, Nigeria ranks 152 out of 188 countries and is the lowest among OPEC countries. The data points to a bleak future as we march to post-oil world without a coherent plan to reduce conflict and build a new national consensus.
19. On the positive side, there is a global consensus that Nigeria is highly potentiated. With a population of about 182 million people, by current estimates; and with our vast mineral and material resources; a well-organized Nigeria should be a land of plenty that supports its people and a leader in the comity of nations. Sadly, this is not the case.
20. Almost every Nigerian is agreed that Nigeria is not working but there is no clear consensus on why; or on what to do about it. Some say that it is merely a problem of leadership and once that is fixed all other things will fall in place. Others say that it is a problem of corruption. Once you tackle that, everything will be fine. Others have said that our problem is one of law and order; some say it is more fundamental and has to do with control of resources, structure of the Federation and thus requires more equitable sharing of revenue and the devolution of powers. Others say it can be fixed with power rotation and a more level playing field. It has been said that it could be a bit of all of the above; and that Nigeria cannot be fixed without a fundamental change of values and attitudes. Whatever the case, it will not profit us to pretend that we do not face existential challenges
21. These challenges are worrisome; especially to our younger ones who must face the fact that the next 50 years could be even more challenging and there is a good chance that we could be left behind if we fail to take action today. For instance, it is estimated in some quarters, that by 2050 – that is in 33 years’ time – Nigeria could be the 4th most populous country in the world. That means that Nigeria, which is just twice the size of Texas; would be more populous than all the United States of America. Meanwhile, as of today, we have a GDP that is barely 2% of that of the United States.
22. At the same time, in the years ahead, we could face very severe ecological challenges that will impact negatively on our economy. The desert is encroaching southwards at a speed of up to 6 km per annum. Thus within 33 years we could lose about 200 km of land to the desert – across the north. This can only exacerbate competition for arable land in the north and elsewhere – with dire political consequences.
23. In the South East, we could expect more ecologically-induced dislocation. For instance, the government of Anambra State estimates that about 40% of the State is threatened by erosion. In the South-South, by 2050 we could be dealing with the reality of a post-oil economy and yet have massive environmental degradation that is yet unattended to. There is also the possibility that much of the mangrove ecosystem could be lost to deforestation. Lagos could have a population of up to 50 million people and face unbearable challenges of massive urbanization.
24. We must become more responsive to the world around us, or we and our children will be left behind. These are some of the fears and anxieties of our youths. We have for too long allowed the bitterness of the war and its lingering feelings to dictate our political relationships. The coalition that fought the war is still in control of Nigeria engaging in rhetoric that fuelled the war in managing renascent Nigeria. The young men and women who were not part of the war are frustrated by this impasse.
25. Those who are in the East fuel strong agitations for separation in the face of clear treatment as second class citizens. War is the primary instrument of military dictatorship while negotiation and agreement are the essential ingredients of civilian democracy and political diplomacy. Nations are not created and sustained by street warfare. The federal government of Nigeria must instruct its police and army to promulgate a ceasefire and disengage from further unproductive street warfare with IPOB and MASSOB. There are no problems which cannot be resolved by negotiation.
26. We do not want any more wars. We have shed enough blood without producing corresponding political results. 50 years after Biafra the time is now overripe for a fresh approach. We must immediately commence discussions and fruitful negotiations about our political future. In the era of assymetrical warfare, war is no more an easy option for states, therefore we must negotiate our way out of a sense of national despair to a new national consensus that unlocks our national possibilities.
27. Nigeria, blessed as the richest and the most popular nation in Africa has enormous potentials. Every part of Nigeria can survive as an independent country. The North with its mineral and agricultural potentials can build a strong nation. The West with its cocoa, oil, indomitable intellectual know how and commerce can build another Britain. The South South with its oil, notwithstanding its declining economic potency can transform its area before oil ceases to be a major foreign exchange earner. The East with industry, outstanding innovation and little oil may still emerge as the African wonder. But none of these little enclaves will rival the capacity of a united and reconciled Nigeria. We must all rise up and save this nation from a trajectory that will make a break up a more viable option.
28. The challenges ahead are beyond Biafra. Just like the challenge in North East Nigeria exploded in our face and has engaged our nation for almost 9 years; we could face challenges anywhere and anytime. In my view, if we fail to build a nation that caters fairly for all its citizens; and prepares us for the world of tomorrow – there will be new challenges in the future.
29. We must find creative ways to manage a complex multi-ethnic and multi-religious state. History teaches us that no society is static; the status quo cannot endure forever. We must find creative ways to promote political, economic and social justice within a nation and between the people that comprise it. If not, then we are invariably opening the doors to future threats of chaos, disorder and societal dislocation.
30. The final challenge of our generation is to show that we learnt the right lesson from that sad conflict of 50 years ago. We must bequeath our children with a nation that works for all and one that looks ahead. We want a Federal Republic of Nigeria which is collectively owned by all Nigerians as opposed to a Federal Republic that will be perceived as a the private property of one group or groups of ethnic groups depending on who is in office. The categorical destination is a Nigerian Nigeria under the collective hegemony of the people of Nigeria. In order to achieve this we must have a flexible federation; strong enough to guarantee our collective defence and protect individual rights, agile enough to react to emerging tensions and threats, yet expansive enough to allow each state room to develop at its own pace. We must create a national order whereby each state bears the primary responsibility for its development.
31. Today majority of Nigerians are yearning for a restructuring of the federation. The beneficiaries of our current system are resisting it. A famous British Prime Minister in the wake of nationalist struggles in colonial Africa said to the British ‘there is a wind of change blowing throughout Africa. Those who resist it do so at their own peril’.
32. Nigeria cannot prosper, as it should, unless we redress some aspects of our current condition. I believe we have enough men and women of vision and experience, in every part of the country, to help us plot a bright future. I commit Ohaneze Ndigbo to this path. It may be difficult but it is doable.
33. True leadership evolves in historical circumstances like this. Our country is at cross roads. You can feel the tension every day. It is palpable, it is potent, it is real. Let us wake up to the change imperative at this moment and claim a glorious judgment by History.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has extended its sit-at-home order declared on May 30, 2017 to other parts of Nigeria where Biafrans and supporters reside.
The order was extended to states like Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Makurdi, Ibadan, Benin, Abuja, Lagos, Lokoja, Gigawa, Jalingo, Mubi, Yola, Lafia, among others.
Despite several warnings by security agencies against the order, IPOB insisted that the order must hold to honour Biafran fallen heroes who lost their lives during the civil war between 1967 and 1970.
A statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma Powerful said its leader, Nnamdi Kanu had written to all governors, market, religious and community leaders in Biafraland to help ensure that May 30 would be memorable in the history of this country.
“This sit-at-home order/remembrance and honour of our fallen heroes slated to be observed on May 30, will be the best thing to happen to the people of Biafra since 50 years.
“It will be monitored by international observers, after which the struggle for Biafra freedom, will move to another level.
“Therefore, everybody, both old and young, man and woman must stay indoors, no protest, no human or vehicular movements in Biafraland from 6:00 am to 6:00pm on that day.
“Biafrans world over must honour and remember our fallen heroes and heroines who died for our freedom between 1967 and 1970, those who died during our peaceful rally and protest from August 30, 2015 till date.
“Biafrans and IPOB members worldwide living outside Biafraland should present a written letter containing the plights of our people to the authorities and governments of their respective countries.
“The people of Biafra will not fail to honour and remember those who contributed immensely to fight and save the lives of our children, some of whom were starved to death by the policy of the then government.
“We will celebrate and honour Mr. Mathew Tawo Mbu from Ogoja, he was the Biafran foreign minister from the beginning to the end of the war, Captain Willy Murray Bruce, this man was second in command of the Biafran Air force, this Ijaw man fought to the last to defend his country Biafra, Ambassador Ignatius Kogbara, this man from Ogoni was a Biafran envoy to London, he was the very last man to surrender during the war of genocide against our people.
“Again, we will not forget to remember the efforts of Col. Willy Achibong (one of the bravest officers in Biafra Army), Col. Nsudo, Col. Etuk, Bob Egbiko and the efforts of few Yoruba men who fought on the side of Biafra will never be in vain like Adeleke, Fola Oyewole, Major Wale Ademoyega and many others.
“We must remember them in two minutes prayer immediately it is 12 noon on that day. We must remember them in prayer, both the dead and those still alive today,” Powerful said.
It’s to honour Ojukwu –MASSOB
Movement for the Actualisation of a Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), has described the sit-at-home as an honour to the late Biafra leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu.
In a statement issued by MASSOB Director of Information, Edeson Samuel called on all Igbo to observe the sit-at-home as a mark of honour to the late Ikemba of Nnewi and all the Biafra soldiers who died during the Nigeria Civil war of 1967- 1970.
The statement urged all pro-Biafra agitators to support the sit-at-home, describing it as part of civil disobedience which is necessary in the struggle for self rule.
“The sit-at-home is not for the interest of any particular group but for the interest of Biafrans. MASSOB and IPOB are urging all schools, markets, transporters and companies in Biafra land to support.
“Also, all biafrans in diaspora should observe the sit- at -home. It is important for us to make it clear that Nigerian security agents have planned to shoot at sight anybody they see that day, to be on the safe side, it’s better we stay at home to avoid this blood suckers.
In a related development, the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra (CG-IPOB) has announced a three-day golden jubilee celebration as a mark of respect and honour to gallant Biafra soldiers and civilians who sacrificed their precious lives while fighting for freedom.
In a statement signed by Ndubuisi Anaenugwu, Director of Information, CG-IPOB said May 28, 2017 has been declared a day of prayer for the souls of all those that died.
He said Biafrans are directed to book masses in their various churches with praying for the repose of the souls of all those who sacrificed their lives fighting for the freedom of the indigenous people of Biafra that their sacrifices will not be in vain.
FORMER CSO OF LATE GEN. SANI ABACHA
Major Al-Mustapha (rtd) EXPOSES ex-Head of State, Lt-Gen. Abdulsalami (rtd) on “CORRUPTION” charges.
Call it, “Masu Gudu, Su Gudu !!”
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THIS ABOUT THE PEACE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, GEN ABDUSALAMI ABUBAKAR….Let’s see how corrupt he is:..PLEASE READ AND SHARE
“When General Abdulsalami came to power, he exhibited an accumulated and accentuated thirst for money. I stumbled on some documents and video cassettes even while in retirement.
“There was the case of $40 million contributed by multinationals for General Sani Abacha’s transmutation to civilian president. I gave the cassette of his disclosure to help him clean the system not knowing that he would use it to clean me out of the system because three days later I was arrested. I urge the commission to investigate this money contributed by multinational towards Abacha’s self-succession.
“There was also the case of Engineer Buba Galadima, Director of NMA whom General Abdulsalami Abubakar directed to release N5 billion from the NMA to the minister through Chief Hope Ozodinma. But Galadima refused saying it was beyond his power to do so. That same afternoon, a lorry load of soldiers invaded his house managed him and took him to an unknown destination. He was ordered to put in his letter of resignation so as to look as if he resigned voluntarily but he refused and asked General Abubakar to fire him. He was fired and he was given two hours to vacate his official quarters.
“The N5 billion was to be shared like this: “1.35 to be given to the minister, Chief Hope would be given N265 million and $18 million would be given to General Abubakar. I have documents to prove this (He than tendered the documents).
“There is the issue of the printing of new naira denominations, of 100, 200 and 500. I shared Mustapha’s opinions on this which he explained in his testimony that it was a booby trap for President Olusegun Obasanjo to fail. I have 13 documents to prove this which I shall tender, before this commission.
“When General Abacha was alive the idea of the printing of new naira denominations was mooted. Three companies bided for the contract – J.B. of Munich; Thomas & Co. Of London, and Bodous of Germany. They all submitted their quotations. They all agreed on $30 per one thousand pieces but General Abacha said it was too much. The agreement was not sealed before his death. When General Abdulsalami came on board, he said it should be printed at $45 per thousand. G & D was given the contract of printing and here was the company reputed for tax evasion. The company has offices in Germany, Greece, Spain, Belgium, Argentina and other places, but only has a liaison office in Nigeria. The company evaded tax to the tune of 2 million Dutch marks in Germany. This is the same company given the job to print the money I commenced investigations into the activities of this company but General Abubakar ordered me to stop it. All these were known to him.
“The NTA in its news at 7 and 9 p.m. on January 11, 2001 reported that a container load of fake naira notes was discovered in Jos and Maiduguri. This is what I am talking about.
“During Abdulsalami’s time, our soldiers in ECOMOG were not treated well at all. General Victor Malu then ECOMOG Commander once had cause to complain of adulterated fuel sent to them. When the contract for the supply of food to our soldiers was changed, it was given to one lady, I will mention her name later.
When General Abacha was alive 45 dollars was approved a day for each of our soldiers but when Gen. Abubakar came to power he increased it. But instead of giving them the money, they were given the old rate, where is the balance?
“There is the issue of parting gift to each PRC member. N1 million was agreed as parting gift for each PRC member or 500,000 dollars. I inquired from two PRC members later differently. I asked them jokingly that I learnt you were all given ½ a million dollars as parting gift. Where is my own share now? But they told me it was only 50,000 dollars. So what happened to the remaining 450,000 dollars per each PRC member times the total PRC members?
Before General Abacha died, he left a foreign reserve of 9.7 billion dollars. There are papers to show this. But Abubakar claimed that only 7.17 billion dollars was left in the reserve what happened to the balance? This reserve that Abacha accumulated in five years, Abdulsalami depleted if in nine months.
“Eagle Square here in Abuja was being renovated yearly when General Oseni was FCT Minister. Consultants were appointed for the renovation at N230 million. But General Abdulsalami rejected this and opted for upward review of N2.3 billion as against N230m.
“Also through 59 million dollars he siphoned from government coffers he bought a house in London at 5 million pounds renovated it at 1 million pounds.
“Before General Abacha died he approved 66 million Dutch marks for the maintenance of Alpha jets and other aircraft. When Abubakar took over he wrote another memo for the sum of 44,275,000 dollars for the same maintenance. I would have wished he was here to cross check if this signature on these documents were his.
“There was also another memo from the CGS dated March 17 1999 at the injury time of the administration. There was request for the purchase of boats at 45 million dollars, purchase of amphibious plane at 21,747,660 dollars; and 5,000 rain coats jacket to cost 14,500,00 dollars. The normal cost of one rain coat to pocket were from rain is 45 dollar per piece and the total cost for the 5,000 rain coats should be 2,9000 dollars. It was signed by General Abdulsalami Abubakar to be purchased on ECOMOG issue, apart from the naval personnel that used to transport the food items, it was later given to merchant ships.
“There is the issue of Engineer Ibrahim Ali, MD of NPA. General Abubakar called him one day and told him since General Abacha did not give you free hand to do your duties, bring your quotation and I will give you the wherewithal to execute it. He brought it to Abdulsalami. He met Alhaji Gidado Idris, former Secretary to the Federation there. Abdulsalami approved it for execution but when Ali left Abdulsalami ordered Gidado Idris to fire Ali when Gidado wanted to refuse, he told him that if he didn’t do it somebody else would do it and that was how he was fired.
Yet, when AbdusSalam Abubakar handed over power to President Obasanjo on 29 May 1999, only the of $ 200 m. was left as Nigeria’s foreign reserve. Let President Obasanjo speak in the name of GOD ALMIGHTY and for the sake of poor Nigerians and posterity.
In what looked like a dress rehearsal for the golden jubilee anniversary of the declaration of the Republic, which comes up this Tuesday, May 30, the Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) marched through the streets of major cities in the South East and South South on Monday, May 22, in processions that were remarkably peaceful despite a few skirmishes with and arrests by, security agents.
The processions were ordered by the Ralph Uwazuruike-led BIM in commemoration of the 17th anniversary of the founding of Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) by Uwazuruike on may 22, 2000.
Indigenous People of Biafra and MASSOB now led by Comrade UchennaMadu, did not participate in the marches, reserving their own anniversary celebrations for Tuesday, May 30 proper.
But, the peaceful nature of the marches has been seen in many quarters as sign of possible overallpeaceful, violence-free 50th anniversary celebrations of theBiafra proclamation.
“Security agents should see from what happened on Monday that a peaceful protest by people pushing for self-determination does not exactly amount to dismembering the country,” said one police officer who would not be named, in a chat with The Oracle Today in Onitsha.
The one-week celebration will end on May 30, the day marking the 50th anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Biafra by then Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the late Biafran leader and IkemebNnewi on May 30, 1967.
In Onitsha, Anambra State, Enugu, Nsukka, Abakaliki, Asaba, Calabar, among others, the processions, which commenced on Monday, May 22, were largely peaceful.
In Onitsha, scores of police officers and soldiers were deployed to strategic places within the metropolis to maintain peace and order but they did not molest the marchers, an indication of a new attempt by security agents to handle protests in public space in more civilised manners.
However arrests were made in Enugu, Asaba, Abakaliki,Calabar and a few other places, where police dispersed the BIM rallies and arrested some members of the pro-Biafra group.
But, observers who spoke with The Oracle Todayin Onitsha during the week, expressed fears that the seeming lack of unanimity of purpose among the pro-Biafra groups, evident in the BIM processions to which IPOB and MASSOB did not subscribe, might spell doom for the self-actualisation efforts of Biafrans.
According to Mr. John Ezeliaku (Nwaojukwu), “what I read some BIM voice out made me fear for the entire pro-Biafra Movement.”
“As far as some or most of Uwazuruike’s boys are concerned, this thing is no longer about Biafra but about the supremacy of their leader over other leaders. Some of them said they were happy at the huge turnout of people mainly because it had shut up those opposed to Uwazuruike. Whatever the outcome of the different celebrations would be in the end, the truth is that the movement will no longer move in one well-defined direction,”Ezeliaku stressed.
While the Uchenna Madu-led MASSOB has dissociated itself from processions, IPOB had from the beginning opted for sit-at-home protest to mark the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra by the late Ojukwu.
Even as the BIM marches were going on, The Oracle Today correspondents in Nsukka, Umuahia and other places reported that sizeable numbers of IPOB members were also on the streets mobilizing people to sit at home on May 30th to mark the day.
Agonized Ezeliaku: “BIM’s Uwazuruike wants Biafrans to march in protest on May 30, IPOB’s NnamdiKanu wants them to stay at home.
Whichever way it goes, one or the other’s ego would have been hurt and the fight will continue to the detriment of the self-actualisation project embarked upon by the entire people of Biafra.”
He wants the elders of the overall pro-Biafra Movement, therefore, to intervene to put the project back on track for the overall good of all Biafrans.
“I appeal to Justice Eze Ozobu, Dozie Ikedife, Col. Joe Achizia and all other elders of the Pro-Biafra Movement to intervene and get leaders of the various organisations to work together to achieve a common goal,” Ezeliaku suggested.
The 50th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra and the 30-month civil war that followed is coming against the backdrop of ethnic tensions, religious intolerance leading sectarian violence and mayhem, acts of corruption and outright incompetence in the management of public affairs that have continued to gnaw at the very foundation of Nigeria’s existence.
These, political observers told The Oracle Today, are the exact same factors that precipitated the Biafran separatist agitation and, eventually, the Nigerian Civil War.
“Nothing has changed; they still treat us as a conquered people,” lamented Chief NniaNwodo, President_General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. “If you drive through the South East, there is a military checkpoint in every major town you go into. If they screen you for arms and ammunition, I will understand that it is a national security imperative. But, they collect money from you; we are forced to pay.”
In his own reaction, the Deputy Publicity Secretary of Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA), DedeUzor A. Uzor said: “The effect of what led to the civil war remains unresolved till date. Going by the position of the present administration of General Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments of Nigerian citizens into various strategic positions, Ndigbo remain grossly marginalized and disappointed.
“For instance, no Igboman is in top four echelon in the strategic security apparatus of the nation, ranging from Chief Of Army Staff, COAS, Chief Of Defence Staff, CDS, Insoector-General of Police, IGP, Director-General of State Security Services, D-G SSS, Specurity Adviser, SSA, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Immigration Service, Prisons Service, NAFDAC, NIMASA, Aviation, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, among others.”
He queried: “Does it mean that no Igboman is qualified or educationally sound to hold such a strategic positions? These are the issues behind the continued agitation of ndigbo for restoration or actualization of Biafra.
“Since these fundamental issues are yet to be addressed, we in the ECA would want to align ourselves with some prominent Igbo personalities like Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Second Republic Vice President who are in support of NnamdiKanu’s continuation with his clamour for the restoration of Biafra”.
But, while the federal government has blamed for not doing much to mitigate the factors that led to Biafra, many others have blamed Biafrans, especially Ndigbo, for not doing enough on their own to help themselves.
Declared Rommy Ezeonwuka, the Ogirisi Igboland: “If you call yourself an Igboman or a Biafran, you must have heard that only 20 pounds was released to every Igbo man shortly after the civil war, and their properties were forcefully taken away from them in some parts of the country in the name of abandoned properties, yet they managed to survive.
“However, it is quite unfortunate that the same Ndigbo who suffered these deprivations have not learnt our lessons from it, to the extent that after surviving the post-civil war trauma, they still went ahead to invest all their monies outside Igbo land where their monies and properties could be abandoned for the second time in the event of another outbreak of war or possible break-up of the country”.
“I presume that Ndigbo cannot be identified as fools with their first mistakes but with these second mistakes of continuing to invest massively in other parts of the country, as they are doing now in their numbers, they can be identified as proper fools and as such, the step could be likened to an Igbo adage which states that first fool is not fool but second fool is proper foolishness,” he agonized.
“To me, Biafran Republic has already been declared by Ojukwu in 1967 and there will be no need for declaration of Biafra for the second time. Ojukwu declared it, fought for it and died for it. There will be no need for a second declaration. All we need to do is to do remembrance anniversaries and befitting burials for those who died during the struggle.”
On General Alani Akinrinade’s open confession that he would not have fought against Biafra if he knew that things would turn out this way in the country, Ezeonwuka stated that such a confessional statement amounted to “medicine after death or better still, crying over spilt milk.”
“Therewere hundreds of women, children and men brought to the hospital that day, so many that we had to lay them out on the street and even operate on some of them there. The gutters around the hospital ran red with blood. The woman had not just been attacked with a machete, but her entire body rationally and systematically mutilated. Her ears had been cut off. And her face had been so carefully disfigured that a pattern was obvious in the slashes. She was one among many — living an inhuman and simply indescribable suffering. We could do little more for her at the moment than stop the bleeding with a few necessary sutures. We were completely overwhelmed, and she knew that there were so many others. She said to me in the clearest voice I have ever heard, ‘Allez, allez…ummera, ummerasha’ — ‘Go, go…my friend, find and let live your courage.”
James Orbinski, Former President, Doctors Without Borders. 1999 Nobel Peace Prize
On June 5, 1969, a Swedish Red Cross DC-7 registered SE-ERP left Fernando Po in Equatorial Guinea, was heading to Uli-Ihiala. It was overhead at exactly 5:45 p.m. Meanwhile Captain Gbadamosi King left Port Harcourt airport dead on time at 5:40 p.m.; and right above our heads in the sky, at Ibono, the two flights met. Captain Gbadamosi signaled the cargo flight to land at Port Harcourt which the Pilot refused, so after five minutes, the plane was shot down. The crew was instantly killed. According to Brigadier Godwin Alabi Isama, in his book, The Tragedy of Victory, the cargo flight had food items, weapons and ammunition in it.
We have since learnt that the Swedish Red Cross plane apart from the crew was transporting Doctors, Nurses who were rushing in aids, delivering medical equipment and all sorts of aid for the starving Biafra children. The plane was clearly marked in Red Cross colors and until the last response the Pilot was vehement. Every Red Cross plane is sacrosanct and by international conventions is never attacked whether on the ground, sea or air!
The Pilot will not detour from his flight destination and in fact was horrified to encounter a Russian MIG Jet fighter flown by a trained Nigerian Pilot ordering the Red Cross plane to change its course. That was the first time in modern warfare a clearly marked Red Cross plane carrying relief, boarding courageous humanitarian Doctors was viciously extinguished in the air, falling in horrendous pieces down to the ground.
While the devilish Pilot Gbadamosi and his fellow conspirators might have been beating their chests for this wanton ‘kill’ we return to page 27 where the heroine of the book, Alhaja Muniratu Alabi Isama had admonished her son, to do all in his power to protect his Ukwuani people who were many in Northern Nigeria …. She told her son that while she was in a public transport sitting with an Ukwuani couple and conversing fluently with them in Ukwuani with them, the bus was suddenly stopped by a military road block. Between Zaria and Kaduna during the pogrom of 1966, right there in front of the Alhaja the Ukwuani couple was dragged aside and shot dead. Alhaja broke down and cried uncontrollably until she got to her son in Kaduna. On seeing her son, she admonished him to stay in the Army and do everything possible within his power to protect his people. She advised her son to leave Kaduna and return to his people and protect Ukwuani people.
Three weeks ago, Brigadier Isama’s best friend in the Army launched his book in Lagos. Full of regrets General Akinrinade lamented his participation in the war and wondered why the Biafrans were not allowed their own State. Isama’s book located another butcher Captain Dickson, who was the Commander at the Ikeja airport during the bloody massacres of July 28th 1966 night and 29th, and after. He was still the Commander of operations when Gbadamosi for the records shot down a Swedish Red Cross plane bringing relief to the starving children of Biafra.
Elsewhere in Ndi Oshimili, the home province of Brigadier Alabi Isama, there have been simmering issues between the Western Ibos of this area and their phalangist neighboring nations of Urhobos and Isokos. The 1967 ill-fated Biafran incursion into the Midwest and the consequences fifty years ago, forcefully reconstructed the boundary lines. A lot of unreported massacres of Ndi Oshimili akin to what happened at Asaba, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Isheagu, put these Western Ibos on the defensive.
In 1949, according to B.O.N. Eluwa, Ado-Na-Idu, History of Igbo Origin, “Igbuku, having been enrolled in Ibo State Union in 1948 by the Okpara-Uku and his traditional cabinet had its tribal affinity made a subject of public controversy. Feelings on the subject were intensified by the visit to the town by the Secretary of the Ibo State Union. At that time, the town had a Local Council recognized by the Western Nigeria Regional Administration. Igbuku (Igbo-Uku) which was in Ukwuani District of Aboh Division had a traditional ruler known as Okpara-Uku put together with his traditional council of elders (Ndichie), enrolled the town as a member of the Ibo State Union. The Okpara-Uku and his elders were however ruling a town which had a large Isoko population. The position had resulted from the fact that the Isoko people, who were originally tenant farmers, had settled in the town in large numbers and had in course of time out-numbered their hosts with whom they had greatly intermarried. The result of these inter-marriages was that, as children normally tend to speak the language of their mothers, more and more of the population were Isoko speaking. Eventually those who spoke Isoko, even though many were bilingual in Isoko and Ibo, far outnumbered those who were merely Ibo speaking. So, in course of time, the inhabitants began to consider themselves Isoko rather than Ibo. In fact, it was said that at that time in 1949, there was hardly any inhabitant of Igbuku who was not Isoko speaking, unless he was a stranger. Also in the families of the Ibo men who were bi-lingual in Isoko and Ibo and who were married to Isoko women, it was said that Isoko was more the family language than Ibo. Thus it was clear that the next generation of such a family would be completely Isoko speaking and would identify itself with Isoko cause.” That next generation did not wait for long. In 1967, Igbuku or Igbo-uku totally became Isokonized.
To avoid having confusion, contention and trouble when God gives us
Our own Nation-Biafra.
To show Nigeria and the world that we are prepared and ready for
independence.
To educate and prepare the minds of our people towards the actualization of
Biafra independence.
To harmonize all pro Biafra groups and bring them under an organised platform recognised by Nigeria legal system in order to speak with one resounding voice.
This directive is necessary, compulsory and mandatory, for the most high, the sovereign Lord of the universe, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Gad and Eri, even the God of our ancestors have taken over the battle.
The Lord has said that the battle for the emergence of Biafra as a nation is not by power, nor by might, but by his spirit.
The independence of Biafra will come with mighty signs and wonders. I ,therefore use this opportunity to appeal to the Nigerian government to stop harassing, ,intimidating and killing of Biafrans who are agitating for their inalienable rights for self determination.
I also appeal to the Nigerian Government to release all Biafrans in Nigerian Prisons, who are being incarcerated as a result of their involvement in the Biafra struggle.
I expect the Nigerian authorities to honour this appeal and release our people in their prisons and police stations within seven day of this publication or get ready for the wrath of God, for no one can battle with the Lord.
Furthermore, I appeal to all Biafrans both in Nigeria and abroad to use the May 30th Biafra remembrance day and seek the face of God, and cry unto Him to be merciful unto us, forgive, wash and cleanse us of our sins .
Let us use that day as a national prayer day. May the mercies of our eternal father envelope all Biafrans as we prepare ourselves for the declaration of Biafra independence sooner than we expect.Amen.
The Administrator of the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra has approved the appointment of Zulu Ofoelue as the Director for Environment and Ecology Development.
This appointment is for a probationary period of 6 months subject to further confirmation by the Supreme Council of Elders. Mr Zulu is expected to apply his wealth of experience in research and applied sciences to work for Biafrans under the Customary Government of IPOB.
On behalf of the Customary Govt of IPOB, we congratulate Zulu Ofoelue on his new appointment.
