The Federal Government has identified 5,000 more Nigerians trapped in Libyan detention camps.
The Charge d’Affaires of Nigeria in Libya, Illiya Fachano, told the News Agency of Nigeria “there is a camp with 5,000 Nigerians and we need the diplomatic police to escort us, to extract them.
“There are various camps in the regions of South, West and East of Libya.
“The United Nations-backed Libyan Government is in the western region which is where Tripoli is.
“Camps in the other regions are known but inaccessible camps due to the challenges of going into these camps as a communication chain is required before we can reach them,” he said.
He also added that the Nigerian government has been in talks with the recognised government in Tripoli, on how to reach some of the camps to extract its nationals.
Fachano also called for the provision of a bigger aircraft to evacuate Nigerians who have agreed to come back home.
“We need the Nigerian government to better fund its embassy in Libya and send the aircraft. We have made our request for that.”
He called on the UN to help out by sponsoring repatriation flights, provide food and health materials for the migrants.
He said the federal government has, so far, repatriated 3,250 from Libya, in recent times.
This is even as 300 other Nigerians are to be repatriated from Libya every week.
Fachano said the government would continue to make efforts to save Nigerians that are trapped in Libya.
“We, the embassy of Nigeria in Tripoli, Libya, have been doing our best to register Nigerians. We have visited the detention camps, and also, collaborated with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) to repatriate migrants weekly…”
Dr. Dozie Ikedife is an elder statesman and former President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. In this interview with TEMITOPE OGUNBANKE, he speaks on the recent governorship election in Anambra State, clamour for restructuring, marginalisation of Igbo and the 2019 presidency, among other issues
What is your take on the recent governorship election in Anambra State?
To me, the results did not seem to reflect the popular view of the people, but it teaches a lesson that if you hold a view and you don’t translate to vote, then that view is as good as dead. It looked good to be true that Governor Willie Obiano, in spite of the campaign mounted against him, won in every local government in the state. That is the result and we have to accept it.
Why do you think the result did not reflect the popular view of the people?
Because when you talk to people on the streets, many of them will tell you that the governor did not perform, but yet they returned him. You can ask the people how popular was Obiano before the election. Before the election, some people kept saying, he did not perform, but yet he had what you can call landslide victory, winning all the 21 local governments in the state. How do you explain that except to say that it is strange? I am not a political scientist; I am a medical doctor.
Some people are of the view that the outcome shows clearly that Ndigbo still have a lot of respect for late Dim Chukwuemeka Ojukwu and that the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has great acceptability in the state. Do you agree with that school of thought?
If you talk to 20 people, you will always get different opinions. For example, Tony Nwoye, the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) was described as a youth, but I don’t think the youth actually came out to support what they are talking of.
They didn’t convert the support to votes. May be they hearkened to the call to boycott the election. And somebody who is supposed to enjoy the support of the youth lost. There was heavy support from the civil servants and it is understandable.
They said ‘Obiano is paying us our salaries therefore let us support him so that he continues in office for another term.’ And there was something unspeakable; there was financial influence. It appears that as at now, not only in Anambra, but the entire Nigeria, that whoever spends much carries the day. It is not peculiar to Anambra State, it is all over Nigeria. People demanded for money openly and they voted for the highest bidder.
What is the implication of that to elections in Nigeria?
Nigerian politics is gradually turning to money for hand and back for ground; cash and carry. I hope we will graduate to voting according to ideological understanding and analysis of party manifesto. But you know this is going to come a long way when you look at the way politicians jump from one party to another.
They are not jumping because of ideological differences or ideological changes. They are jumping to where they think they have the chance of winning and some are prepared to sell their mothers to win. It is a great pity. We hope that along the line, we shall evolve better into voting according to ideological differences and the way we see the candidates, manifestoes and promises that are likely to be kept as some promises in politics are often not kept.
Are you invariably saying that Nigerian politicians don’t keep promises?
Are they keeping all their promises? Have they kept the promises to the peoples’ satisfaction? Of course they have not. I want us to be frank in this interview; no question of painting things; painting what is yellow, green. I am not part of that. I say things as they are. At my age, if I don’t say it as I see it, then it is high time I should join my ancestors.
In the contest of keeping to promises, President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC made a lot of promises to Nigerians during the 2015 general elections. Do you think he and his party have delivered their campaign promises more than two years in office?
We have to take into cognisance his physical fitness. I can’t assess him yet. I am still watching, so that when my verdict comes, you can quote it as authoritative. I am still giving him the benefit of doubt because of ill-health. Let us see how he will finish the second half of his first term.
Are you saying that you can’t assess the Buhari administration after two years in office, considering his promise to fight corruption, address insecurity and fix the economy?
As far as I am concern, I have given him credence, credit and commendation for his determination to fight corruption head on. Because if he doesn’t kill corruption; corruption will kill all of us. I think he is doing his best in fighting corruption. Now, some people are saying he is doing a selective anti-corruption war, but if you know that I have enriched myself in a corrupt way, blow your whistle. If it is proved right, you get your reward. You cannot just be saying people are corrupt without concrete evidence. We have to be very careful about false accusation.
In that regard, I think the President is doing his best. He has empowered the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and even the Police and Department of State Services (DSS). If you have any evidence, bring it formerly forward; don’t whisper in your kitchen or bathroom and when you come to the sitting room, you close your mouth.
If you know that anybody has enriched himself in a corrupt way and you are sure of it; the government has encouraged people to blow the whistle, promising that you would be protected and you will be rewarded if you are a honest whistle blower. But, if you are fictitious and a character assassinating whistle blower, then you will go for it. I think that is a very bold attempt.
What about the economy?
In terms of the economy, I want to tell you frankly that many of the economic problems we had are beyond Buhari. One, the price of oil at the international market is not controlled by Buhari. Even the need and use of fuel is beyond the control of his government. All these happened the time he was coming in as president.
And in a mathematical equation, where there are so many unknowns, it is very difficult to balance the equation. We are talking about corruption, drop in export of oil and fall in the price of oil, which led to the weakness of the naira and lack of confidence in the economy by external investors. Many of these factors were beyond government control or Buhari’s control. We have to factor them in when we assess his performance on the economy.
There are certain things that experts play with. They talk about recession and disappearance of recession. To me, all these are high classroom talk just to be spoken to the marines and not to the ordinary man walking on the street. Until the price of gari come down for people to get eight cups instead of six for a unit of currency; until people buy kerosene, petrol and diesel at affordable prices; until a man is able to pay school fees of his children and the children, he sold his underwear to train in university or secondary school is able to get employment, talking about recession or no recession to me is just a folk.
We want to know what we can buy with N10, N100 or N1,000; whether it is buying more or less gari and yam. How easy it will be for people to afford and pay for good medical care and also send their children to school. These are the things that will show whether Nigeria is out of recession or not.
What about security, which is also one of President Buhari campaign promises?
In the area of security, President Buhari has done well. I will also praise Governor Obiano for improving security in Anambra State. He has made it possible for people to now travel again at night and you can go to the place you don’t know and ask somebody to show you the way to your destination and they will show you the right way instead of showing you the way to a den of robbers or kidnappers. He has done that and he has to be given credit for that. He is building on what Peter Obi started.
But, there are certain things that still need to be done to address the problem of security. Boko Haram still needs to be controlled because they are still active. The militants in the Niger Delta are still there. It is paradoxical that Boko Haram and perhaps the Niger Delta Avengers have not been declared terrorists and yet the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who doesn’t really carry arms, were declared terrorists groups. After they declared a terrorist group, I went to the dictionary to seek for the definition of terrorist in case the meaning has changed. That it is not the way to control excesses.
Legislations are coming in to make kidnappers pay the supreme price; that is in the right direction as far as I am concerned. But, it takes time before you squeeze some wings in a place where there is trouble. There are certain things I think government is doing wrongly.
What are those things?
They went to Niger Delta and said they have destroyed 20 illegal refineries. That is a negative and wrong policy. The country’s refineries are not producing enough and we are importing fuel. That people are able to do illegal refineries shows that refining petrol, diesel and kerosene is Class Four Chemistry. All those doing it should be gathered together to form cooperatives and allowed to produce and ensure that what they produced meet standard rather than destroying what they are doing and flashing it in the newspapers. Government should organise them and encourage them.
Distilling petrol is not a rocket science; so people doing it should be encouraged. During the Biafran war, we never lacked diesel, petrol and kerosene; they were produced here because we were under total blockage. But, we didn’t lack the products because we were able to scoop crude oil from somewhere, distilled and used it. It is something that should be organised, encouraged and make sure that standards are met.
Another thing is the way government is treating the people, who are talking about self-determination; turning deaf ear to people who are calling for restructuring. Government is for people and not people for the government.When people say something that is generally acceptable, government should listen to them. Restructuring will save this country.
So, you support the demand for restructuring of Nigeria?
Many people are demanding it and there is a need to do it. Some people have said Igbo should forget Biafra; how can you tell the people to forget Biafra? Can I tell Yoruba to forget Oduduwa? Can I tell some people to forget Arewa? Can I ask you to forget something that took away your father, mother, brothers, sisters or friends? It is another idiotic statement to ask people to forget Biafra.
No person who experienced Biafra will ever forget Biafra; even in his grave. People should stop telling Biafrans to forget Biafra. It is an insult on the sensibility of the people who called themselves Biafrans. It is an insult and provocation. What do we do with Biafra should be the question? How should we handle the Biafran situation; the agitation for self-determination in Biafra land? That should be the approach; not to say that they should forget Biafra.
One man came to Nigeria; he said he is from United Nations; a Muslim from Ghana, to come and tell Igbo that they should forget Biafra; that they are better off in Nigeria. Of course we are better off in a bigger country.
Economically, you have a wider area to travel and do business, but you must be alive first. If you are dead, whether your country is as big as China or USSR means nothing to you. If you are alive and your country is as small as Fiji, that is alright. When you are given the back hand almost all the time, showing that that you are not welcome and accepted, how do you want such a person to develop true patriotism?
Are you saying that Ndigbo are not well treated in Nigeria?
Are they being treated well? The answer is no.
In what ways are they not being treated well?
I can tell you that since 1945, the Igbo have been singled out for elimination, massacre and genocide from time to time. If I search, I can find the document that has the lists of all the attacks on Igbo and it will shock you when I read them. It started in 1945 in Jos, 1953 in Kano and another one in 1966, where over 60,000 civilians were killed; then the war, 1967 to 1970, where Nigerians used starvation as instrument of war. At the end of the war, there were no prisoners anywhere.
Convener of South East Elders Forum and former President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Dr Dozie Ikedife has justified Igbo’s ceaseless cry of marginalization as nothing in concrete terms has been done to address the issues. He insisted that any group in Nigeria has the right to self-determination through legal and diplomatic channels. He faulted the recent claim by a delegation from the United Nations that came to canvass for one Nigeria.
He put a big question mark on the authenticity of the delegation, saying that their mission should be disregarded. He also talked about former vice-president Atiku Abubakar defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He said it is too early to judge the former Vice President of Nigeria by his action “because you are not sure if he has finished jumping. Are you sure he will not jump back to APC?” Dr Ikedife addressed other issues of national importance.
It appears that President Muhammadu Buhari administration has begun to beam its developmental searchlight on the Igbo nation, building roads and other infrastructure. Can that appease the Igbo and stop them from crying about marginalization?
You said he has started. Well, when we see that we will then believe. Even if it is in the budget, we have not yet seen the execution. That notwithstanding, if there is something like that in practical terms, then nobody will cry of marginalization. So long as there is evidence of neglect people will continue to cry of marginalization. It is a legitimate cry.
If a section of a country is not given the needed attention as given to other components, it cannot but cry of marginalization. Marginalization means you think that something is due to you but you don’t get it. Or you are systematically excluded from having what you are supposed to get as if you are nobody. Patronages and amenities are not equally distributed. That cry has given impetus for self-determination. And that cry for self-determination will not die unless what leads to it is addressed. If you have an ulcer, it is painful and you will continue to cry until the ulcer is healed. That is the simple analogy.
Are the Igbo the only people marginalized in Nigeria?
As I said earlier, the Igbo started crying of marginalization and others started crying, too. The truth is that some are more marginalized than others. And if you break down the societal groups, in every group there must be people who must be seen to have been marginalized, a group or groups that are not getting all that are due to them. So, every other group has the right to cry of marginalization. Igbo marginalization is quite conspicuous in so many areas of national life.
The Supreme Council of Elders of Indigenous People of Biafra (SCEIPOB) where you serve as deputy chairman is in court with the Federal Government through Billie Human Right Initiative over Biafra self-determination. How far has this gone?
Well, the matter is still in Federal High Court, Owerri Imo State. And it is left for the court to determine our right to self-determination. From the United Nations pronouncement which is adopted by the African Union (AU) and by extension Nigeria, it is declared that any ethnic group who so wishes has the right to self-determination. That right cannot be terminated arbitrarily.
The issue there is, how do you go about it without infringing on the law. Billie Human Right Initiative took the Federal Government of Nigeria to court seeking to know whether the people in Biafra land have the right or not to seek self-determination. The SCEIPOB is pursuing it legally, politically, diplomatically and through discussions within the framework of the law of the land. And you can see that other parts of the world are doing it.
You will recall the size of the Soviet Union, from there, about eleven countries have come out. Yugoslavia broke away, Czechoslovakia broke away and some others. Britain has left the European Union after being a strong member. Scotland sought to be on her own from the United Kingdom, and so on. It is the universally accepted right of any group to seek to be on its own. There was a case like that in Spain and many other countries.
We have outgrown the era of enslavement and colonization, the era of Berlin Conference when Africa was shared and dominated by the European countries. Not anymore.
People should be allowed self-determination. It is a fundamental right. Time is changing. We should realize that the time of domination and enslavement whether you like it or not is gone. Don’t forget that democracy is all about if you are allowed to rule me. If I don’t want you to rule me, it can’t be by force. I will voluntarily allow you to rule me, not that you conquered me. That should be the position. That time of gunboat diplomacy is gone for good. Let people realize it, that you have no right to be ruling me if I don’t want it.
A UN delegation visited Ohaneze Ndigbo recently canvassing for one Nigeria. How do you look at that?
That claim of a visit from the office of the Secretary General of the UN is not substantiated. Somebody claimed that he came from the UN, Muslim from Ghana who perhaps works at the UN Secretariat. He came and said that bla bla bla for us to be one Nigeria. I say to him who the hell is he to tell us where we will belong to? We, who are wearing the shoes know where they pinch us. He has no right to make that statement. What he said was almost bordering on irresponsibility. And I do not expect a responsible organization like the UN to make such a weighty statement without hearing from both sides. I even doubt the authenticity of the man’s claim of who he is.
Why did Alaigbo Development Foundation and South East Elders Forum not long ago travel to US to petition UN and US Congress over Biafra?
We made the petition when the Igbo living in the North were given quit notice, when it was still changing. The truth is that we agree that living in a big country like Nigeria has many advantages, but if insecurity to life and property cannot be guaranteed, it is far better to be alive and live in a small country. If the waves of unprovoked killing of our people in the Northern part of our country, if pillaging and sacking of villages with destruction of farm crops in Igbo land by the so-called Fulani herdsmen, who still do nomadic cattle rearing, if sacking peaceful Igbo people and businesses in the Northern Nigeria is our lot, then we are far better off living in a separate smaller country called Biafra. We take consolation in a United Nations Act which allows for self-determination for ethnic nationalities, who so wishes to do so, peacefully.
Now on 2019. Will Alhaji Atiku Abubakar’s return to PDP affect APC’s chances to remain at the centre in 2019?
Well, Atiku Abubakar moves round. Perhaps, he has not permanently landed. Or has he? Are you sure he is not going to move again. We should wait until he has permanently become a member of either APC or PDP before we can assess the situation.
PDP may not be happy welcoming him because he has been jumping from party A to party B. He is a man who is pursuing an objective, to be the President of this country. He is looking for locus standi so that he can use that platform to actualize his ambition.
Should President Muhammadu Buhari be endorsed for 2019?
You know I’m no longer in active politics. So, I can’t discuss that matter.
BVI Channel 1 can confirm from a reliable source that Charley Boy Group has requested for deployment of Security Personnel to ensure a peaceful conclusion of EndSARS Procession across the Country.
Part of the request reads’ In line with the provision of section 40 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which guarantees the right of peaceful assemble and in exercise of that right,a coalition of civil society organisations will be holding peaceful processions across the country to protest over the brutality,intimidation and corruption of members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad(SARS) following massive public outcry across the Country’
It should be noted that OURMUMUDONDO is an association of all angry and frustrated Nigerian who are hungry for good governance and end of impunity in the system.
My announcement today marks the beginning of a new approach to conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
In 1995, Congress adopted the Jerusalem Embassy Act urging the federal government to relocate the American Embassy to Jerusalem and to recognize that that city, and so importantly, is Israel’s capital. This act passed congress by an overwhelming bipartisan majority. And was reaffirmed by unanimous vote of the Senate only six months ago.
Yet, for over 20 years, every previous American president has exercised the law’s waiver, refusing to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem or to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital city. Presidents issued these waivers under the belief that delaying the recognition of Jerusalem would advance the cause of peace. Some say they lacked courage but they made their best judgments based on facts as they understood them at the time. Nevertheless, the record is in.
After more than two decades of waivers, we are no closer to a lasting peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians.
It would be folly to assume that repeating the exact same formula would now produce a different or better result.
Therefore, I have determined that it is time to officially recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.While previous presidents have made this a major campaign promise, they failed to deliver.
Today, I am delivering. I’ve judged this course of action to be in the best interests of the United States of America and the pursuit of peace between Israel and the Palestinians. This is a long overdue step to advance the peace process. And to work towards a lasting agreement.
Israel is a sovereign nation with the right, like every other sovereign nation, to determine its own capital. Acknowledging this is a fact is a necessary condition for achieving peace. It was 70 years ago that the United States under President Truman recognized the state of Israel.
Ever since then, Israel has made its capital in the city of Jerusalem, the capital the Jewish people established in ancient times.
Today, Jerusalem is the seat of the modern Israeli government. It is the home of the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, as well as the Israeli Supreme Court. It is the location of the official residence of the prime minister and the president. It is the headquarters of many government ministries.
For decades, visiting American presidents, secretaries of State and military leaders have met their Israeli counterparts in Jerusalem, as I did on my trip to Israel earlier this year.
Jerusalem is not just the heart of three great religions, but it is now also the heart of one of the most successful democracies in the world. Over the past seven decades, the Israeli people have by the a country where Jews, Muslims and Christians and people of all faiths are free to live and worship according to their conscience and according to their beliefs.
Jerusalem is today and must remain a place where Jews pray at the Western Wall, where Christians walk the Stations of the Cross, and where Muslims worship at Al Aqsa Mosque. However, through all of these years, presidents representing the United States have declined to officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. In fact, we have declined to acknowledge any Israeli capital at all.
But today we finally acknowledge the obvious. That Jerusalem is Israel’s capital. This is nothing more or less than recognition of reality. It is also the right thing to do. It’s something that has to be done.
That is why consistent with the Jerusalem embassy act, I am also directing the State Department to begin preparation to move the American embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. This will immediately begin the process of hiring architects, engineers and planners so that a new embassy, when completed, will be a magnificent tribute to peace.
In making these announcements, I also want to make one point very clear. This decision is not intended in any way to reflect a departure from our strong commitment to facilitate a lasting peace agreement.
We want an agreement that is a great deal for the Israelis and a great deal for the Palestinians. We are not taking a position of any final status issues including the specific boundaries of the Israeli sovereignty in Jerusalem or the resolution of contested borders. Those questions are up to the parties involved.
The United States remains deeply committed to helping facilitate a peace agreement that is acceptable to both sides. I intend to do everything in my power to help forge such an agreement.
Without question, Jerusalem is one of the most sensitive issues in those talks. The United States would support a two-state solution if agreed to by both sides. In the meantime, I call on all parties to maintain the status quo at Jerusalem’s holy sites including the Temple Mount, also known as Haram al-Sharif. Above all, our greatest hope is for peace. The universal yearning in every human soul.
With today’s action, I reaffirm my administration’s longstanding commitment to a future of peace and security for the region. There will, of course, be disagreement and dissent regarding this announcement. But we are confident that ultimately, as we work through these disagreements, we will arrive at a peace and a place far greater in understanding and cooperation. This sacred city should call forth the best in humanity.
Lifting our sights to what is possible, not pulling us back and down to the old fights that have become so totally predictable.
Peace is never beyond the grasp of those willing to reach it.
So today we call for calm, for moderation, and for the voices of tolerance to prevail over the purveyors of hate. Our children should inherit our love, not our conflicts. I repeat the message I delivered at the historic and extraordinary summit in Saudi Arabia earlier this year: The Middle East is a region rich with culture, spirit, and history. Its people are brilliant, proud and diverse. Vibrant and strong.
But the incredible future awaiting this region is held at bay by bloodshed, ignorance and terror.
Vice President Pence will travel to the region in the coming days to reaffirm our commitment to work with partners throughout the Middle East to defeat radicalism that threatens the hopes and dreams of future generations.
It is time for the many who desire peace to expel the extremists from their midsts. It is time for all civilized nations and people to respond to disagreement with reasoned debate, not violence. And it is time for young and moderate voices all across the Middle East to claim for themselves a bright and beautiful future.
So today, let us rededicate ourselves to a path of mutual understanding and respect. Let us rethink old assumptions and open our hearts and minds to possible and possibilities.
And finally, I ask the leaders of the region political and religious, Israeli and Palestinian, Jewish and Christian and Muslim to join us in the noble quest for lasting peace.
Thank you. God bless you. God bless Israel. God bless the Palestinians and God bless the United States.
Let nobody console you that we are making progress in Nigeria .Things are getting worst by the day.If not CNN,we wouldn’t have been exposed to the slave trading in Libya.The situation in Libya is not different from what many people are passing through right inside Nigeria.
Let me ask you: How many people have committed suicide in Nigeria within the last few months? Why did they kill themselves? There are so many people that are suffering inside Nigeria but too afraid to speak out.There are modern slavery in the banking industry,in telecommunications, in various Govt and private offices.What of millions of youths that are jobless? What of those contractors that are being owned by the government for years ,many have died of stroke.
The situation in Nigeria is quite complicated.Visit police stations to appreciate how human is being treated like ordinary Christmas chicken! Our domestic animal(s )are being treated fairly than many people living in Nigeria.
It is annoying that Nigeria has what it takes to put every Nigerian into a database and pay all those that are not earning income a stipend on monthly basis.It is wickedness to pay any Nigerian a minimum wage of N18,000. Let me say here as an economist that Nigeria can afford to pay a minimum wage of N100,000 and still pay about N50,000 on monthly basis to all those that are not working. Why should anybody steal 2.1 billion dollars from public fund in a country where many sleep with empty stomach? Do we need full time Legislators? Are we not wasting resources servicing some unproductive public servants and their ravish consumption pattern? Why should Policemen be allowed to be following individuals and a Governor with 50 policemen! Don’t we travel to UK ,America?
Is Nigeria cursed ? When some of us opt for a Biafran State through the due process of law,some will say that we are unpatriotic? Tell me, why should anybody be happy with a Country where very few people are sharing the national cake to themselves while majority watch in agony.
Libya slave case is a child’s play when compared with what families are passing through right inside an assumed ‘peaceful’ Nigeria.Ourmumudondo now.
I have been following closely the activities of this government and whenever I have the opportunity, I try to find out the opinions of people as regards the performance of this government.
I just realized that the hardship faced by many Nigerians is simply as a result of the fact that almost everyone of us benefited from the cycle of corruption.
The bricklayer, plumber, laborers, tiler are all complaining because building construction has slowed down massively cause the thieves no longer have money to spend on real estate.
The car dealers are grumbling because their cars are begging for buyers. Thieves can no longer spend wastefully.
The private school owners are shouting because parents can no longer pay outrageous sums and are withdrawing their wards.
I was shocked when I learn that in a popular private University in Abuja, parents are writing undertaking at the account section for their children to be allowed to write exams… and it goes on and on.
The fact is, a lot of people are returning to what someone referred to as ”default mode”.
We mostly have been living above our REAL MEANS.
We have been staying in houses that ordinarily our incomes can’t afford.
Our children going to schools we can’t afford. Driving cars we ordinarily can’t maintain.
We have been living a FAKE LIFE all along. Now the reality is before us and we don’t want to accept it.
This shows how morally bankrupt we are.
You can’t eat your Cake and have it. Take Note…”GOD HELP AND BLESS NIGERIA”
You got billions from bank without collateral using your political influence. You put half into your business and spent the other half on exotic cars, jeweleries, etc.
Your business employs 100 people normally. You get illegal waivers and concessions to import raw materials at rock bottom prices, you get over-inflated contract to supply government some goods your company produce….in short your company is kept afloat by corruption.
Now the new SHERIFF in town says:
no more ridiculous waivers,
no more inflated contracts, no more bank loans without collateral, in fact its time you or your company pay off the billions of debt owed…..
AMCON takes over your company, staff are laid off……And you go on air and say the new sheriff is killing business and causing unemployment..
The truth is….you and your company were never in business, you were only feeding off the system.
Too many companies and banks are funded by corruption. Remove corruption from the system and they collapse…….and we end up blaming the person that removes corruption for the collapse of the corruptly run fake company.
Its like our system and corruption are so interwoven and inseparable that removing one will kill the other.
Maybe we should tolerate and learn to live with corruption so that Nigeria can survive?
Recession: What recession? If you think Nigeria is broke, then you are living in another planet. Now, please read the information below and tell me why Nigerians crying of hardship are comfortable with the bold looting of their collective wealth by the politicians.
A SELF DECEIVING COUNTRY CALLED NIGERIA
Twenty-one senators currently receiving pensions from government as ex-governors and deputy governors.
The current senators who once served as governors are Bukola Saraki of Kwara, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Kabiru Gaya of Kano, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Theodore Orji of Abia, Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa, Sam Egwu of Ebonyi, Shaaba Lafiagi of Kwara, Joshua Dariye of Plateau Jonah Jang of Plateau, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto, Ahmed Sani Yarima of Zamfara, Danjuma Goje of Gombe, Bukar Abba Ibrahim of Yobe, Adamu Aliero of Kebbi, George Akume of Benue and Isiaka Adeleke of Osun.
The former deputy governors in the Senate are Ms Biodun Olujimi of Ekiti and Enyinaya Harcourt Abaribe of Abia. Danladi Abubakar Sani served as the acting governor of Taraba state.
Many former governors are also in Buhari’s Cabinet as Ministers. This includes: Ngige, Fayemi, Amaechi and Fashola (SAN).).
In Akwa Ibom State, the law provides that ex governors and deputy governors receive pension equivalent to the salaries of the incumbent. The package also includes a new official car and a utility vehicle every four years; one personal aide; a cook, chauffeurs and security guards for the governor at a sum not exceeding N5 million per month and N2.5 million for his deputy governor.
In Rivers, the law provides 100 percent of annual basic salaries for the ex-governor and deputy, one residential house for the former governor “anywhere of his choice in Nigeria”; one residential house anywhere in Rivers for the deputy, three cars for the ex-governor every four years and two cars for the deputy every four years.
It is alledged that in Lagos, a former governor will get two houses, one in Lagos and another in Abuja, estimated at N500 million in Lagos and N700 million in Abuja. He also receives six new cars to be replaced every three years; a furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual salary to be paid every two years, and a N30 million pension annually for life.
This is the reality for all the 21 ex govenors and deputy governors who are currently serving as senators. This same is also true of ex governors who are now serving as Ministers.
NOW I ASK:
How many years did these guys serve their states as governors and deputy governors? Is it more than 8years? Is that a reason to be entitled to pensions for life? Even if they are entitled to pension for life, must it be so outrageous?
As if that is not enough: HOW on earth can any public servant with conscience collect salaries and allowances as a senator or minister, and still have the audacity to claim pensions equivalent to the salaries of a serving governor in Nigeria?
IT ISN’T ROCKET SCIENCE……
Once you are elected a senator or appointed a minister, you must forfeit any pension accruing to you from government at any level until you vacate office. This should also apply to senators collecting military pensions like former Senate President David Mark.
Yet these senators are in the Senate that is inviting the current finance minister to discuss the recession of Nigeria’s economy. A senator pockets approximately 30 million naira monthly as salary and allowances. Our “honourables” are not interested to make laws that could restructure our country into economically autonomous federating States/Regions to save the country from sectional agitations that is threatening to destroy Nigeria. The sad and hopeless situation is that the rest of Nigerians are busy arguing based on party, ethnic and affiliations while these enemies of state continue to rape us.
Do you know that it costs tax payers 290m Naira yearly to maintain each member of our National Assembly in a country where nothing works & 80% of population earn below 300 Naira a day ? A working day earning of a senator is more than a yearly income of a doctor; it’s more than the salary of 42 Army generals or 48 professors or 70 commissioners of police or more than twice the pay of the US President or 9 times the salary of US congressmen.
It’s high time the country had a referendum on those outrageous salaries of Senators, House of Representative members and other political office holders.
*If you are seriously against the looting of our commonwealth in Nigeria, in the name of democracy, you can let this piece go viral by sharing it with as many of your contacts and groups too!*
If you are willing to save Nigeria then take action. Invite your neighbors and friends to discuss these issues raised. Brainstorm and come up with actions to be taken to stop this plague eating up the fabric of our democracy and our future. Collectively we can make a difference. Sitting down and doing nothing magnifies the problem and dooms our future, our children’s future and our grandchildren children.
The Nigerian Constitution which provides that Nigeria shall be
indivisible and indissoluble has been overridden by the Powers of the Judiciary as it could not stop Bakassi from being removed from Nigeria. The Map of Nigeria has been redrawn and reduced in size by reason of the removal of Bakassi Peninsula from Nigeria. Just as Bakassi Peninsula was removed from Nigeria by judicial power, it is our strong legal opinion that Biafra shall also be removed from Nigeria by judicial power.
Regarding the legal issue of capacity to refer a matter to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, there is an exception to the general rule that only sovereign nations are clothed with international legal personality to bring actions in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). International Law permits National Liberation Movements recognised by the UN and International Human Rights Organizations to bring actions in the International Court of Justice on behalf of the people they represent otherwise the oppressed people would not have access to justice contrary to human rights law. It is an elementary principle of law that in everylaw there must be an exception. A simple example is the traffic law that forbids you to beat the traffic light or drive in the opposite direction but permits
emergency ambulance services to violate the rule because somebody’s life is at stake. In the same way, there is an exception to the general rule of international legal personality that permits national liberation movements and international human rights organizations to bring actions in the ICJ.
The rule of law on international legal personality allows national liberation
movements recognised by the UN to bring actions in the International Court of Justice. The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) is not a country but an organization recognised by the UN with the right under international law to bring action in the ICJ on behalf of the Palestinians just as Bilie Human Rights Initiative has been recognised by the UN with power to represent the Biafrans. By the rule of international law, if the Biafrans do not obtain justice within the Nigerian jurisdiction, they have the right to appeal to the International Court of Justice.
We have said that our intention is not to destroy Nigeria but
to be free from Nigeria. We have cited numerous examples of countries that got independence without destroying their host countries. Starting from the Bible history, Israel came out from Egypt without destroying Egypt. In modern times, Eritrea came out from Ethiopia without destroying Ethiopia. Bangladesh and Pakistan came out from India without destroying India. In 2011, South Sudan came out from Sudan without destroying Sudan. In the same way, we the Biafrans want to leave Nigeria without destroying Nigeria. If a Biafran wants to maintain dual citizenship and retain his Nigerian citizenship, it is his fundamental human right. There are many Nigerians that are also British and American citizens.
The Nigerian law provides for the right of self-determination to indigenous
peoples of the land enforceable by the Judiciary. The Biafran Lawyers obtained evidence from the British Authorities showing the Treaties signed between the British Government and the ancestors of Biafraland from 1884 – 1892 which authorised the British people to enter upon our land for the purpose of trading only. This evidence is before the Federal High Court Owerri. As at that time,there was no Nigeria but there was Biafra. The ancient Map of Africa 1662 showed the three kingdoms in Africa from where Nigeria was carved out in 1914, namely, the Kingdom of Biafra in the East, the Kingdom of Benin in the West and the Kingdom of Zamfara in the North.
A typical provision at Page 24 of the Treaty Documents signed between the ancestors of Biafraland and the British people placed an obligation on the
British Government in the following words: “To respect all native laws and
customs of the country, and not to interfere with the existing rights of any of the natives without first obtaining their consent”. This provision was made because the British people came for trade under the name of the Royal Niger Company Ltd and our ancestors granted them license to trade in our land but not to interfere with the government of our country then in existence. There was acountry called Biafra shown in the Ancient Map of Africa 1492 – 1843.
We have proved from the Ancient Map of Africa that the Biafrans are some of the indigenous peoples of the lands where Nigeria exists today. This fact of history therefore engages Articles 19 – 24, Cap 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 1990, which guarantees the rights of indigenous peoples of the land to self-determination. The Biafrans therefore decided to use the third option. For this reason, we commenced the action in the Federal High Court Owerri and embarked upon national and international diplomacy for the Independence of Biafra. .
Apart from the rule of international law that a people seeking for independence must commence the action from their domestic jurisdiction, it was also necessary to commence the suit in Nigeria in order to create momentum and synergy and gather the Biafrans together under the Customary Government so that we could establish a de facto government under Customary Law on the ground and satisfy the requirements of international law for recognition without committing the offence of treason.
The rule is that a people seeking for independence must show that they are governable under a leadership structure to avoid anarchy, lawlessness and bloodshed. Though the Customary Government headed by the Supreme Council of Elders is not sovereign, it provides an internal command structure to hold the people together should anything happen to Nigeria. By the rule of customary law, it is the duty of theelders of the land to gather their children together in times of crisis. Therefore,
Justice Eze Ozobu’s Customary Government is an alternative platform for the
Biafrans to fall back to in case of crisis but does not oppose the Nigerian
Government.
The advantages of using legal method to achieve independence are many. If
independence is achieved by due process of law, all your investments and
properties in all parts of Nigeria will remain yours. The only difference is that
you will pay the taxes and rates to the government in whose jurisdiction your
properties are located. It is just like owning properties in London or America.
Again, everybody has the fundamental human rights to have dual citizenship. If
a Biafran wants to have dual citizenships, he can still retain his Nigerian
citizenship. It is your human rights to acquire multiple citizenships. I know
some Biafran activists who have dual and triple citizenships. Most importantly,
the use of legal method has attracted the Biafran elder statesmen into the
Biafran Struggle and given the Struggle much respect and legitimacy. It has
also attracted international diplomats to visit Biafraland and observe the court
proceedings in the Federal High Court and see our level of preparedness for
independence. The Biafran Struggle is no longer in the hands of charlatans and
fraudsters but now in the hands of Biafran intellectuals, strategists, royal fathers
and diplomats. Nevertheless, we emphasise that everybody is important in the
Struggle but every person must know and do what he is best talented to do. The
big men and small men are all important and needed in the Biafran Struggle.
The Intellectuals, Technocrats, Politicians and Businessmen are all important.
Our women, children and students are all important in the Struggle. But every
person should wear the shoes of his size. The level we have reached now in the
Biafran Struggle is as a result of using the experts in their areas of expertise.
What the Claimants are expected to do as the case progresses:
We have noted that the hatred, persecution and attacks on the Biafrans are still
going on in various parts of Nigeria. At the moment, due to the rejection of
Biafra by many people in the South-South, the word “Biafrans” is now
synonymous with the word “Ibos” even though the Igbo People are not the
only Biafrans. Nevertheless, to the people of the North, all the Easterners are
the same whether they are from the South-East or South-South. We have also
noticed that despite the hatred, persecution and attacks on the Easterners in the
North and West, the Ibos especially have continued to invest heavily in the
regions where they are hated. Below is the photograph of a public rejection of
the Igbo People in Lagos State:
In the North, the Ibos are killed and butchered like rams and goats without any
Government speaking on their behalf. This is the most important reason for the
restoration of the Biafran sovereignty. It is a sovereign country that can join
issues with another sovereign country in a diplomatic war over the lives of its
citizens. If a British citizen or American citizen is killed in Nigeria, the British
Government or American Government will take up the case for its citizen with
the Nigerian Government and ensure that justice prevails. From what we have
seen so far, we conclude that Nigeria does not regard the lives of the Biafrans.
The Northern Governments have stated unequivocally that theirs is a Shariah
Law Territory. The region is governed under Shariah Law and therefore any
person living in their territory must be willing to obey the Shariah Law or move
out of the region. However, the killing of the Ibos is not because they disobey
any Shariah Law but because of their enterprising spirit in commerce and
industries and the rapidity with which they acquire wealth in the land of their
sojourn by dint of hard work while the owners of the land become poorer in
comparison. Below is the photograph of the Ibo trader they recently macheted
to death like a ram:
The attacks, hatred and persecution are perpetrated by both the elite and the
masses of the North and West. The Oba of Lagos insulted the Ibos and
threatened to drown them in the lagoon if they failed to vote for his candidate.
On receiving severe criticisms from the public, he turned around and said that
he was drunk when he made the threat! On Monday 20 April 2015, it was
reported all over the internet and shown on the Facebook page of Dr Abraham
Ariyo, Medical Doctor, American-based Cardiologist, a Yoruba man, calling
for the elimination of the Ibos as he alleged that God might have put a curse on
the Ibos as they are hated everywhere they go, using the massacre of the Ibos in
South Africa as an example. He said that the Yoruba would continue to “bus
them to Onitsha” referring to the deportation of the Ibos from Lagos to Onitsha
as done by the Governor of Lagos State.
Unconfirmed sources told Daily Sun, on Monday, that the village heads of Dong and Lawaru, Dabang Kayako and Ferdinand Boro, respectively have both been killed in the herdsmen militia attacks that occurred in the communities early in the day.
Locals said a military aircraft is currently hovering over the area apparently to nip the crisis in the bud.
BVI Channel 1 can confirm that OURMUMUDONDO group led by The President of All The Frustrated Nigerians-Charleyboy has made real her threat to gather at the Foreign Affairs Commission to protest against Slave Trading ongoing in Libya and to demand that Nigeria Government evacuates all the concerned Nigerians from Libya with immediate effect.
In a letter made available to BVI Channel 1 few days ago from the group,the letter reads in full ‘ Fellow Nigerians, we write to you with a sorrowful heart and a weeping soul.Evil has been allowed a chance to dominate the minds of Africans.Our Brothers and Sisters have been turned into objects of contempt and ridicule in the most humiliating slave trade ever witnessed in recent times.Over 150,000 Africans are in Libya trying to cross over to Europe every year .Among them,there are more than 40,000 Nigerians who are being abused,starved ,deprived of water ,sold into prostitution,mutilated ,and even killed.Some of them are even hung upside down and burnt alive.This is evil and inhumane.This does not paint us well as Africans and Black people.Those people who are being sold as slaves in Libya are our brothers and sisters.Some of them are close relatives that we don’t even know are there.Some are our long time friends.And more importantly,they are all Nigerians and Africans.And for this reason,we must all come out in solidarity,arms locked with heads held high and march to the Foreign Affairs Commission peacefully on Monday(being today),December 4,2017 to demand that our government brings our people back to Nigeria’.The statement concluded.
As we write Charlyboy and members are seen at Tafawa Balewa House,Off Ahmadu Bello Way,Abuja seated on the floor with hands tied in chains and their voices chanting songs of freedom.This will continue for 6 hours non stop everyday until Government does the needful.
