The Anambra State office of the Independent National Electoral Commission was thrown into pandemonium on Monday following an alleged discovery of a substance suspected to be a bomb.
The scare is coming five days to the governorship election in the state scheduled for Saturday, November 18, 2017.
The proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra had threatened to hinder the poll, saying what the people needed was a referendum to determine if they wanted a sovereign state of Biafra and not a governorship election.
It was gathered on Monday that the suspected explosive was planted near the state INEC gate.
When our correspondent visited the INEC secretariat, bomb disposal experts and other policemen were seen in and out of the place.
It was gathered that before the arrival of the experts, there had been disruption to work as members of staff of the commission in the state, as well as visitors, fled for dear lives.
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr Nkwachukwu Orji, however, denied knowledge of the bomb scare.
“I don’t think I know what you are talking about,” the REC said.
But some INEC workers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.
They said the substance was first sighted in the early hours of Monday.
“All of us ran away when somebody said it was a bomb. We were all scared to stay in our offices until the bomb experts came and defused the device.
“Let this election be conducted once and for all so that that we can rest. This is scary,” one of them said.
Speaking on the telephone, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Nkeiruka Nwode, said she was not aware of the development.
Asked why there was a large number of bomb disposal experts at the INEC Secretariat, Nwode said it was part of preparations for the Saturday governorship election.
Meanwhile, three suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra group have been arrested by troops of the Nigerian Army in Aba, Abia State, for allegedly sharing leaflets with the inscription, ‘No election in Anambra.’
Our correspondent learnt that the suspects – Chidiebere Nwaona, 35; Nwagbougwu Okeke, 55, and John Nwaogazi, 50 – were apprehended on Sunday at Alaoji Flyover in Aba by troops of 144 Battalion, 82 Division, who were on a patrol in the area.
It was gathered that the suspects and the leaflets had been handed over to the Abia State command of the Department of State Services.
It was reported that suspected IPOB members on Friday marched around some streets in Onitsha, Anambra State, vowing a lockdown during the Anambra governorship election.
The IPOB members had threatened voters with death if they cast their votes, adding that they would disrupt the election.
In videos of the march which went viral on the social media, they had said, “If you vote, you will die. Don’t go out, stay in your house. If you vote on November 18, you will die. There will be no election. We will not participate.”
But the army said on Monday that the three suspected IPOB members were apprehended for allegedly sharing of leaflets and flyers discouraging the residents from the Saturday election.
The Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, and spokesman for 82 Division, Col. Sagir Musa, confirmed the arrest.
He said, “Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects are aged 35, 55 and 50. The suspects, leaflets and flyers have been handed over to the Abia State Command of the DSS.”
The army also said a cleric, Michael Onyeka, the pastor of Victorious Peoples Assembly, Aba parish, who was kidnapped last Friday, had been rescued by troops.
“Following the kidnap of Onyeka, on Friday, a tip-off was received from a good Samaritan indicating the possible location where he was held. A patrol team of 144 Battalion of 14 Brigade combed the bushes of Ngboko general area on Sunday and Onyeka was successfully rescued.
“No arrest was made as the culprits ran away before the arrival of the troops. Efforts are being made to apprehend them.”
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to stay away from the South East.
The president will be in Ebonyi, today, on a tour of three South East states. The group specifically gave the warning ahead of the president’s scheduled visit to Ebonyi, today, and Anambra State, tomorrow.
IPOB spokesman, Emma Powerful, said in a statement that “we (IPOB members) will die with him should he set his foot on the sacred land of Biafra.
“November 14, 2017 will be recorded in history as a bloody day, should Buhari attempt to land on Biafran soil. He is coming to mock us and to urinate on the graves of our 91 brethren his Operation Python Dance II killed in Abia State. He is coming to show us that power belongs to the North and to tell us we are forever slaves.”
Meanwhile, soldiers attached to the 144 Battalion, Asa, Abia State, have arrested three IPOB members in Aba.
The suspects, Okeke, 55, Nwaoha, 35 and Nwaogazi, 50, were reportedly arrested by soldiers on patrol in Aba on Sunday around Alaoji/Fly Over axis of the city.
Daily Sun gathered that the IPOB members were allegedly caught distributing flyers and posters with the caption, “No election in Anambra State.”
A source at the battalion said the suspects, with their flyers were handed over to the Department of State Security for investigation and possible prosecution.
The source, who declined to be named, said “the 14 Brigade would continue to work in synergy with the Police and other sister agencies to flush out criminality and anti social activities within the state.”
In a related development, Ebonyi State Governor, Dave Umahi has disclosed that the people of the state are “fully prepared” to receive the president.
He told State House Correspondents, last week, at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja, that president Buhari would commission some projects carried out by his administration during the visit, including roads and flyovers.
“There are quite a lot of projects that we have executed within these past two and half years. We have three numbers of twin flyovers that are built across the African Trans Sahara Road running from Enugu to Cameroon, passing through Ebonyi State…
“We have completed two and the third one is 80 per cent done, Mr President will commission the two. We also have a mall, what we call Ebonyi Mall, modelled after the famous Dubai Mall. And, we intend for the president to lay a foundation stone of that mall, which we will like Mr President to commission in the next 12 months.”
It has also emerged that Umahi has barred all forms of rallies and display of party logo by political parties in the state as the president visits today.
The governor warned political parties from coming to the stadium with any party logo.
“Nobody should come to the stadium with any party logo. We don’t want to embarrass the president. If we invite the president for a state visit and PDP rolls out their logo, it is an embarrassment to Mr. President.
“So, it is a presidential visit, no party is coming to the stadium with a logo or party slogan. It is just a simple, pesidential visit. If they don’t understand, they should find out what presidential visit is and what it entails,” he said.
The officer urged members of the public to inform the army and other security agencies of the activities of criminals and hoodlums in their locality, stressing that they would make crime unprofitable in the state.
Below is a letter sent to the US Congress by the Converner-South East Elders Forum-Dr Dozie Ikedife:
We are members of South East (Nigeria) Elders Forum- a Nigerian registered non-governmental organization (NGO). This is an open, non-political, non-religious not for profit organisation. We are all members of Igbo Ethnic Nationality and elders as the name implies made up of traditional rulers, religious leaders, academicians, technocrats and leaders of thought in many fields of human endeavour. We are concerned about the Igbo ethnic group in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world.
We have suffered recurrent genocidal crimes committed against us by Nigerians, especially those of Northern Nigeria, dating back to 1945. This climaxed in the pogrom of 1966/67. By the general agreement of the people of Eastern Nigeria, we decided to distance ourselves from the rest of Nigeria, based on many waves of unjustified killings. We therefore, elected to be known as people of independent State of Biafra in 1967.Immediately after this, Nigeria with her allies, declared war on this young state of Biafra. Unprepared, unexpected, we were forced to defend ourselves for 30 months before we were overwhelmed by complete blockade, starvation, heavy indiscriminate bombing of churches, markets and other public places. We were forced to surrender to Nigeria`s allied forces on January 12th, 1970, to save the rest of the Igbo population from complete eradication.
Despite window dressing declaration of “No Victor, No Vanquished” and ostensible policy of Rehabilitation, Reconstruction and Reintegration, economic strangulation and systematic exclusion of Igbo people in Eastern Nigeria (Biafra) followed since then. Unprovoked, unjustifiable sporadic killings of our people continue to date. Few instances are listed below to illustrate;
In Jos (Northern Nigeria) 1945, there was massacre of Igbos.
In Kano( Northern Nigeria), a genocide against Igbos in 1953
1966 pogrom of over 60,000 Eastern Nigerian civilians were killed in the North
May 29, 1967- over 200,000 soldiers and civilians were killed in Western and Northern Nigeria.
1967-70 – 3,000,000 killed during the bloody civil war.
In September, 1967, the Asaba Massacre (refer Blood on the Niger) since the war ended.
Another Kano riot took place in 1980, in which many Igbos were killed and property worth billions of Naira destroyed
In Maiduguri, 1982, a series of Igbos were also killed
Jimeta, 1984
Gombe, 1985
Zaria, 1987
Kaduna and Kafanchan, 1991
Bauchi and Kastina, 1991
Kano, 1991
Zangon-Kataf 1992
Funtua, 1993
Kano, 1994
Beheading of Gideon Akaluka in December of 1996 in a police station in Kano
Kaduna ,2000
Kaduna, 2001
Maidugiri, 2001
Jos- maiden crisis took place September ,2001
Kaduna ,2002
Jos-November, 2008
Post – April, 2011 Presidential Elections, 10 youth – corps men and women, as well as, numerous citizens were murdered because a Christian from the South region was elected president .
Jos – Christmas day, 2011
In Abuja, 6 traders from Southern Nigeria also described as Apo 6, were brutally killed for no just reason.
Madalla – christmas day ,2011
Mubi – January 6, 2012
In January, 2013, the bodies of several MASSOB members were found floating in Ezu River in Anambra state
Many slaughtering of Igbos orchestrated by the Nigerian terrorist group Boko Haram
Even in the homelands of the Igbo people, we have the following;
Nimbo Massacre, 2016
Awgu Massacre, 2016
Abia Massacre, 2016
In 2016, 74 year old Mrs. Bridget Agbahume, a market woman, was beheaded due to alleged blasphemy. There were no legal actions taken against the perpetrators
Ndubuisi Uzoma, a young Igbo university graduate, was beheaded in his farm near the Abuja airport by fulani herdsmen.
Sometime ago following the publication of a cartoon in a Scandinavian Newspaper about a Muslim with head injuries, there was a wave of killings of Igbos in Nigeria
There are many other instances of unjustifiable killings of South Eastern people especially the Igbo people.
On May 30th, 2017, the Igbo people of Biafra land (Eastern Nigeria) decided to observe a “Sit at Home” (that is, no work, no business activities) to ruminate on their fate in Nigeria, as well as, remember their people who have been unjustifiably killed before, during and after the Biafra War. This innocuous “Sit at Home” order was widely obeyed by Igbo people all over Nigeria, to the surprise of the rest of Nigerians.
Following this, various Arewa(Northern Nigerian) youth groups unanimously issued a 3 month Quit Notice to all Igbo people residing or doing business in Northern Nigeria to leave all parts of Northern Nigeria before October 1st, 2017. Failure to do so will attract dire consequences including deaths and confiscation of their properties and businesses. The elders of Northern Nigeria instead of condemning this threat, confirmed it.
This is a very significant and ugly development. It is clear demonstration of deep seated wide spread disbelieve in one Nigeria of equal citizenship for all by people of Northern Nigeria both young and old. Arrival at this point is that parting of ways, peaceful separation of Biafra from Nigeria, is here now.
We fear the worst
This is in spite of the fact that the subsisting Nigerian constitution 1999 (as amended) allows Nigerians to live and own property in any part of Nigeria or outside it.
Incidentally, it is the Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria who in practical terms demonstrate their belief in one Nigeria. They live and invest heavily in every part of Nigeria, in the West and in the North.
Conversely, there is little or no worthwhile investments in Igbo land by Hausa/Fulani of Northern Nigeria.
Igbo owned landed properties were once declared abandoned properties and confiscated in parts of “ONE Nigeria”. A threat of another major confiscation has now been announced in the North. The Igbos in other parts of Nigeria have been repeatedly hit physically and emotionally by other Nigerians for no just cause, but perhaps morbid hatred.
The Existence of both peaceful and violent agitations in various parts of the country is a clear indication of generalized discontent. The amalgamation of the country in 1914 has become a marriage in which partners are not happy and appear irreconcilable. The peaceful dissolution of the marriage (amalgamation) is the most prudent thing to do, rather than persist till these agitations spin out of control with destruction of properties and loss of life in thousands and millions again.
Since the Igbo people are so hated and badly treated by other Nigerians, the only fair thing to do is let them be separated from the rest of Nigeria.
We agree that living in a big country like Nigeria has some advantages. But if security of life and property is not assured in a big country, then it is far better to live in a smaller country and be alive.
If waves of unprovoked killings of our people (Igbo people) in Northern parts of Nigeria and even in our ancestral homes, pillaging and sacking of our villages and destruction of our farm crops by armed itinerant nomadic cattle herdsmen from the North, threat of sacking peaceful law abiding Igbo people living in Northern Nigeria, continued systematic exclusion of Igbo people and neglect of Federal Government infrastructures in South Eastern Nigeria is our lot in Nigeria today, then Sirs, we humbly submit that we are better off living in a separate smaller country called Biafra urgently and peacefully carved out of Nigeria. BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.
We take consolation in and hang our hopes on the United Nations Act which allows for peaceful self determination to ethnic nationalities who so wish.
WE DO WISH.
We have noted the recent attempts by Scotland to pull out of the United Kingdom after centuries of the union. Great Britian voted to pull out of the European Union after several years` membership. We also recall the breakup of Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia, the carving out of several independent countries out of Union of Socialist Soviet Russia(U.S.S.R.) and the recent creation of East Timor, etc. It is because of our wish to have a peaceful carving out of Biafra from Nigeria that the Elders of Indigenous people of Biafra, took the Federal Government of Nigeria to Nigeria High court sitting in Owerri Imo State for Declaration of the right of Indigenous people to self-determination. The case is still ongoing with suit number FHC/OW/CS/192/2013.
We are happy that the United States of America is a champion of Democracy and democratic principles hence this appeal to you to help us- BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. We hereby appeal to you and through you to the American Congress (Senate and House of Representatives), American Government and American people to save us, the Igbo people of South Eastern Nigeria numbering over 40 million people both at home and outside Igbo land from these series of senseless killings and threats to extermination. BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.
We appeal to you to please urgently do the following and more:
Persuade the Government of Nigeria to ensure that the threat of sacking and dis-possessing of Igbo people of their investments in Northern Nigeria come October 1st,2017 is NOT carried out then or ever in future.
Help ensure that Igbo people living and carrying on lawful and peaceful businesses in Northern Nigeria are not visited with another wave of killings, massive genocidal crimes or pogrom again.
Help to ensure that machinery is urgently put in motion that will lead to urgent but peaceful separation of Biafra from Nigeria without rancour, friction or bloodshed.
Discourage the existence or threat of any genocide or ethnic cleansing wherever it rears its ugly head as in the case in hand – by taking preventive actions. BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure.
Help us to ensure that we are not exterminated from the face of the earth by those who seem not to be happy with our existence.
Sirs, this is a distress call from an Ethnic Nationality group, the Igbo people of Eastern Nigeria (Biafra land) numbering over 40 million people, who are being killed sporadically without provocation or justification and who are being threatened with further visitations of rampageous killings by their fellow Nigerians.
OFFERINGS of the common people who now can’t afford
to send their children to these schools today.
Where is the morals and responsibilities of the
churches as charity in Nigeria?
What is the difference between church and political leadership in Nigeria?
These schools were all built with the sweats of their church members who kept sowing seeds like:
-special offering seeds
-first fruit seed,
-redemption seed,
-thanksgiving seed,
-harvest seed,
-tithes,
-pastor’s seed,
-church building seed,
-evangelism seed,
-father’s day seed,
-mother’s day seed,
-children’ day seed,
-Pastor’s cake seed,
-olive oil seed….etc.
These schools are now elite
schools, only for the rich
politician children.
The gainers then use the profits to buy private planes & jets to fly up high in luxury, ride Exotic Cars and live in expensive Mansions, while their members, (who are mostly the least of Jesus people) sleep hungry.
The next Sunday, they will read Malachi 3:6-12 to these members again without making reference to Deuteronomy 14:22-29 about their own responsibility to these poor members in their churches.
Thank God for early missionaries who built schools and gave basic
education FREE or NEAR FREE to many of us including the CURRENT LEADERSHIP of these churches and universities.
The TRUTH is a bitter pill to swallow.
ASK THOSE WHO SAW THE REVIVAL OF 1930s,1970s
AND 1980s, THEY WILL TELL YOU WHY WE ARE CRYING OVER THIS
“FIRE LESS NESS” WE ARE SEEING IN OUR GENERATION OF BELIEVERS.
John Knox prayed: “Lord, Give me Scotland or I die”…
St Patrick, a rugged believer that Brought even dead animals and trees back to life prayed: “God, Give me souls or give me nothing else”….
Brethren during the Hebrides revival prayed:” Lord, If you will not use us, please, kill us”…
The brethren from England who brought the Fire from Azusa Street revival
gathered everyday under the terrible cold.
Their only prayer topic was: “Lord, give us men that will spread Your Fire in the streets of England”.
During the Indonesia Revival, those hungry hearts were seen praying day and night: “Lord, The harvest is ripe… If it pleases You, please use us”.
One prayer that was common during the days of
William Seymour was: “Lord, this is another day that hell must lose men and women. Please, we are here use us”.
Paul said:” Woe is me if
I preach not the gospel”
Rachel said to her husband, Jacob: “Give me children or I die”
But unfortunately, our churches are filled today
with people who are not ashamed of spiritual
barrenness.
We are asking “God give me money. God give me spouse.
God give me visa”.
Where do we see believers
again that will be praying and fasting, and when you listen to them, you will be hearing:” Lord, let Your Fire fall in my community and let their be revival”?
When Paul encountered Christ, he fell and rose. What He asked was:” Lord, what will You have me do”.
But today, when we fall under anointing, we stand to start expecting marriage proposals and visas and employment letters.
This generation of members in our churches have not had a genuine encounter with the Man of Calvary.
Magical entertainment is tge odd of the day and magicians have taken over the pulpits to entertain the adulterous and wicked generation who are looking only for SINGS AND WINDERS as evidences of the presence of the Almighty God!
Magicians are out there making MACHANDISES of the sheep and lions dressed in shepherds clothing are all over declaring “Salvation, Sanctification, Baptism by immansion, Baptism in Holy Ghost or Speaking in Tongues and Laying of the hands…” which are elementary gospel and Leave the weightier matter of Living.
The Chinese. Indians, North and South Korean and other nations where there are no churches are making life better for their own while we enslave our people with deceits.
Six days to the Anambra governorship election, five leading candidates are slugging it out in the governorship debate organised by Channels Television.
Tony Nwoye of the All Progressives Congress (APC); incumbent governor, Mr Willie Obiano, of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, and Mr Oseloka Obaze of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are presently telling the people why they should be elected.
Also participating in the debate are Mr Godwin Ezeemo of the Progressives People’s Alliance (PPA) and Mr Osita Chidoka of the United Progressive Party (UPP).
More than two million people are registered to vote in the election, which will take place on Saturday, November 18 and the candidates are pushing to win over votes by explaining their plans.
This is a government that is visionless; government must be purposeful, government must be adaptive. We need infrastructure that works – Oseloka Obaze.
I am the only fellow paying salaries and pensions, as well as working on roads – Willie Obiano.
My opponents do not know the size of Anambra’s economy. Today, we are exporting yams and vegetables to the UK – Willie Obiano .
Road construction will be my utmost priority if elected governor of Anambra State – Tony Nwoye .
Anambra is not on a sustainable path to growth, we should focus on leveraging the people – Osita Chidoka
Where are the roads he (Willie Obiano) constructed? This state is broken, we need to fix it – Obaze Oseloka .
This government has spent almost N600billion in the last four years; there is nothing commensurate to show – Obaze Oseloka .
My predecessor left N9billion cash. He issued cheques worth over N15billion before he left office. – Willie Obiano .
Tony Nwoye doesn’t have an executive capacity. He has never worked in his entire life – Willie Obiano.
I wish to make Anambra State an industrial hub through provision of power and water – Tony Nwoye, APC .
Funds meant for building an airport in Anambra should be used to develop the capital city – Osita Chidoka.
I will engage agitators positively. I will create jobs. I have it on record that I have employed more than 150 men and women – Tony Nwoye .
Funds meant for building an airport in Anambra should be used to develop the capital city – Osita Chidoka .
This is a government that is visionless; government must be purposeful, government must be adaptive. We need infrastructure that works – Oseloka Obaze .
•Warri monarch cautions against heightening tension
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, yesterday launched additional 20 new 400 horsepower gunboats, newly acquired by the Nigerian Navy to beef up the military combat weapons already deployed to the Niger Delta creeks shortly after the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) announced its withdrawal from the peace accord, and threatened to resume hostilities in the region.
The additional gunboats came less than one week after the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, announced deployment of troops and equipment to the creeks of the Niger Delta and the Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) Central Naval Command, Rear Admiral Abubakar Bello Alhasan, launched ‘Octopus Grip Two, with another 11 gunboats in Delta creeks.
Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, who launched the boats at the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta, Warri, emphasized that the added fleet were necessary to enhance the Nigerian Armed Forces readiness to check increasing security threats in the country.
While performing the launching, Gen. Olonisakin, solicited the understanding and cooperation of the local indigenes with the armed forces in the task of protecting the nation’s critical assets, urging law abiding citizens not to entertain any fear as the operation was targeted at the criminal elements sabotaging the nation.
Explaining the reason why the Niger Delta environment had come under heavy military watch in recent years, Olonisakin condemned the new threat of violence by the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA), noting that violent agitation is unconstitutional and would not be allowed to go unchecked.
According to him, “Recent purported declaration of intent to resume hostilities by the Niger Delta Avengers rather casts an unfortunate gloom on the well being of the region and serves a sad commentary on the security environment. While the right to agitation is inalienable to any group, its association with violence is unconstitutional and will always be strictly prosecuted by the armed forces.”
Olonosakin commended the Navy for patronising indigenous companies to construct 16 of the gunboats, and noted that a South African company constructed the other four boats.
The CDS said the successful construction of the 16 boats was a clear testimony that with adequate encouragement, the underdeveloped technological capacity of indigenous companies could be harnessed for national development and improved security.
In a swift reaction to yesterday’s additional deployment, the Olu of Warri, His Majesty, Ogiame Ikenwoli, expressed concern over the massive military hardware being deployed to the Delta creeks alone and called for caution in the latest approach being adopted by the federal government in handing the situation in the region.
Specifically, the monarch urged the federal government to exercise restraint in its military action so as not to heighten the growing tension among the indigenes of the coastal communities in Delta state who had started abandoning their homelands to take refuge in other places to avoid falling victims of any possible military reprisal.
He noted that presently the indigenes are living in absolute fear of an unsecured environment to their lives and property and warned against aggravating the apprehension among the people in order not to provoke anger and lawlessness in the creeks.
Following the Friday road march by members of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Onitsha calling for boycott of the November 18 Anambra State governorship election, the police command in the state yesterday said the proscribed group cannot stop the governorship election in the state.
The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Garba Umar, who spoke through the State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Nkeiruka Nwode (ASP), on the IPOB protest and its call, said the group’s action amounts to nothing as the State Police Command was on top of security situation in the state.
Nwode said: “Some IPOB members were seen in Onitsha distributing leaflets, saying the November 18 poll would not hold. But the IPOB march was of no effect as the police in the state had concluded arrangements for effective policing of the state during the election.
“INEC has fixed the election and it must hold. Nobody or group can stop it,” the PPRO said.
She assured the people of the state of adequate security during the poll, and asked them to go out en masse to exercise their franchise on the day of the election, stressing that their security would be guaranteed.
IPOB members on Friday took to the roads and streets of Onitsha and its environs to campaign against next Saturday’s Anambra state governorship election.
The group marched along major roads such as Awka road, Old Market road, New Market road to Main Market as well as to Oguta road Upper Iweka to Owerri road, saying that there would be no election in Anambra state and Biafra land pending the conduct of referendum for the exit of Biafra people from Nigeria.
They held Biafran flags and distributed handbills with inscriptions such as “IPOB call for referendum is not call for war, Biafra Exit, ‘Our Mumu Don Do’, No election in Anambra, ‘No election in Biafra land, sit-at-home, etc.”
One of the members who gave his name as Ogbonnaya said that the reason the people of Biafra should not vote was because the system was skewed in favour of the North, stressing that voting would not change anything.
“Whether you vote or not, it does not change anything, whoever gets there will swear allegiance to the Fulani slave book called constitution and immediately becomes a demon against his people. We need to boycott the elections to avoid giving their government legitimacy and the only presence of federal government in Nigeria military and police.
“Tell them that we are not miscreants, touts, criminals, toothless bulldogs as they branded Biafrans. Tell them that the genuine power belongs to the people and we are withholding it for good and for the sake of our freedom,” Ogbonnaya said.
The group however warned anybody that would come on the Election Day to vote should take whatever comes out of it.
The Onitsha rally few days ago by IPOB members under the leadership of Nnamdi Kanu with the message of NO REFERENDUM DATE, NO ELECTION is totally uncalled for and it is a sign that we have sold our sanity.
We all know that the IPOB are fighting a just cause but the way they are going about it will not only frustrate the struggle but will elongate the actualization of Biafra and make those in the struggle to look foolish.
How can they claim they need referendum without clear understanding of what referendum is and how referendum works? Referendum is a political process which entice the people to vote for or against self government. Now can they tell the general public those who are responsible for conducting a referendum in a state? is it not the constituted government that conduct the referendum ?
Coming to Anambra election. I think the decision of the IPOB to boycott the election is totally a nightmare as boycotting the election would never be supported by any rational and reasonable mind at home. I think the best thing Nnamdi kanu should have done is to use his power as their leader to adopt a political party and field a pro Biafran as their flag bearer. Believe you me, there is no doubt that their group will triumph over every other political parties. Now if they secure Anambra state Government House and in 2019 they do same to other Biafra states. This will help Biafra to secure their states politically so that when ever issues of Biafra is raised in federal level, they will surely advocate for BIAFRA..
WHY IS THIS NECESSARY?
It is very important because even if Biafrans shout referendum from now till eternity, without having control over the political system of their territory, they are just chasing shadows. We have equally heard from them that by boycotting election UNITED NATIONS will know they are serious. But hear it clear now. Even if the United Nations want to look into Biafra matter, they can never meet any of those boys shouting on the streets rather they will work through an existing Government institutions
Having a disorganised leadership as we have now in Biafran political environment, they can never subscribe to self government because of all their looting in the system. So now how can one achieve something out of these people? Besides , even if Nnamdi Kanu group did not come out for the election, definitely there are thousands if not millions of people in Anambra who will surely participate in the up coming election…. So my people let us wake up from our slumber and join hands to develop Biafra land politically and economically just like the CATALONIANS. So that we shall have both political and economic power so that even if biafra comes we shall never lack..
So I call on every sensible Biafran to neglect the call for election boycott and think ahead on how to put a pro Biafra on seat to facilitate what we are agitating for.
NOW SECURITY ALERT!
Information reaching the Customary Government has it that federal government have deployed battalions of security personnel / soldiers for the up coming election. Therefore my advice to Anambarians and youths is to coordinate and respect themselves throughout this election week and aftermath….. Any one who decide not to participate in the election, please kindly stay at home but if you must exercise your franchise on that election day, please do that. Never try to disrupt the election. AGBASIA ÓSÓ, AGUA MILE…. He who has ear, let him hear…
I am Ngwu Victor Bright.
Media Assistant to the Administrator, Customary Government of Biafra.
The final push for votes has begun among 37 political parties and their candidates, with just seven days left in Anambra State governorship election campaign. The most anticipated election of the year is down to the last week.
The next few days offer the candidates the final chance to perfect what needs to be done to swing the race in their favour.
With the November 18 finish line in sight, candidates know it is the last chance they have to touch the hearts of the electorate and try to help the ones that are undecided make their decisions fast – the contestants will hope to get the electorate to go to the polling stations and cast their votes for them.
By now, contestants must have told the people what they will do for them, why they wish to lead, why they should be voted into office, among other things. The electorate should know what each of the contestants has on the menu for the state if voted in.
In the run-up to the election, so far, the residents of Anambra have witnessed many rallies, interactions with politicians and heard lots of promises through the print and electronic media.
A major political campaign tool is the manifesto of the candidate, which is a public declaration of policy and aims, which the candidate and his party intend to implement when voted into office.
But over the years, politicians have failed to implement their campaign promises and this has made the people lose interest in manifestos. Out of the candidates contesting the election, only a few have shown evidence of articulated manifestos. Some of the media aides to the candidates stopped answering calls from Saturday PUNCH when it had become obvious that their principals had no manifestos to present to the electorate.
An Awka-based legal practitioner, Mr. Okoli Akilika, however, described the increasing disuse of manifesto as an aberration, saying “it is a social contract between the person to be elected and the electorate.”
“It is the manifesto that will make people hold leaders accountable so that they are able to ask: have you done what you promised to do?” He added.
Be that as it may, there are five contestants generally considered as the strongest candidates in the race, including incumbent Governor Willie Obiano, who have all promised to improve the lives of the people.
For instance, one of them, Godwin Ezeemo of the Progressive Peoples Alliance, had said he would focus on “security, health, agriculture, power, education,” which he had termed as SHAPE.
Osita Chidoka of the United Progressives Party promised to run a transparent, community-based and all-inclusive system, where institutions of government in all critical sectors would run efficiently for the desired quality of life for all citizens and residents.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s Oseloka Obaze also promised to ensure good governance and encourage public policy ownership, development strategy scheme, inclusive governance and free media.
Similarly, Dr. Tony Nwoye of the All Progressives Congress said his administration would focus on security, infrastructural development, job creation and attracting investments from local and foreign investors.
And Obiano, the current governor of the state and the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, had put emphasis on “continuity,” saying he would continue to improve on security, education, infrastructure, health care delivery and so on.
However, political analysts in the state had predicted a three-way race among the incumbent, Obiano; the PDP’s Obaze; and the APC’s Nwoye. The power of incumbency is on the side of Obiano, while it is believed that Obaze and Nwoye will offer a strong competition by virtue of the strength of the PDP and the APC – the two biggest parties in the country.
Also, according to analysts, beyond the usual rhetoric, Anambra people want a leader that will be ready to get down to business and deliver on promises made.
For example, to a community leader in Ogbunka, Orumba Local Government Area of the state, Col. Chuba Ikeagwu (retd.), the most important quality a leader must have is to be able to provide “good governance for his people.”
Similarly, a former councillor and Editor-in-Chief of Fides Newspaper, which is owned by the Awka Diocese of the Catholic Church, Jude Atupulazi, noted that the people of the state were in need of a visionary leader who could take the state higher.
“We want a governor that is mature, a governor that has vision and one that really knows what is needed to take the state a notch higher because every political regime has been trying to take the state higher.
“So we are looking for a candidate that will not disappoint us or take us back. We have not reached our destination but we hope that with a good candidate, we will get there,” he said.
One factor that will play a big role in the election, as identified by analysts, is zoning, which is the rotation of political positions to different geographical regions within the state.
Since the reemergence of democracy in Nigeria, which signalled the beginning of the Fourth Republic, Anambra North, of the three senatorial districts in the state, has been the unluckiest.
Anambra South has produced Chinwoke Mbadinuju, Dame Virginia Etiaba and Andy Uba as governors, albeit Uba’s reign only lasted 14 days. Anambra Central, on the other hand, produced Chris Ngige and Peter Obi as governors.
However, Obiano has been the only governor produced by Anambra North and the general sentiment in the state is that the zone should be allowed to complete two terms, even if it won’t be the incumbent that gets to do so.
The candidates for the three main contending parties are from Anambra North. This underscores the value they have placed on zoning, with the hope that the strategy will allow their candidates gain more credence in the public.
Confirming the situation, a hopeful Ikeagwu, who is from Anambra South, said he was in support of having someone from Anambra North as governor for another four years so that the position could move to his zone by 2023.
He said, “In Anambra, we have been using rotation. Central finished its turn and it is now in the North and we want the North to complete eight years; then, power will move to the South where I belong. So there are internal issues in Anambra.
“Except one of the parties that got its candidate from Anambra Central, other candidates are from the North, including the candidate of the APC and the PDP.”
Money is also expected to play a major role in the election. Although Section 91 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, provides that a governorship candidate can append a maximum amount of N200m, analysts in the state are of the opinion that the law has been grossly abused by the candidates.
For instance, Akilika alleged that one of the candidates bought 326 shuttle buses for each of his party’s ward chairmen while blaming the Independent National Electoral Commission for failing to ensure candidates did not go against the law.
Akilika said, “You cannot divorce money from politics; but legally, the electoral act has pegged the amount a political party can spend in any election. But it appears that INEC is ill-equipped to implement the law. So I call on INEC to ensure that the law is complied with.
“How can you explain a candidate buying shuttle buses for 326 ward chairmen in a state? It is obnoxious. We don’t know about the ones he bought for hangers-on and so on, we are talking about the ones that are in public domain.”
Ikeagwu, who also lamented the situation, called for more public sensitisation on the matter.
“There are other people sharing money, so we are trying to reduce money politics drastically in the state. Most of the money being shared is stolen wealth. People can collect such money but on Saturday, they should go out and vote for good governance and their conscience,” he said.
However, Atupulazi noted that the Anambra people were becoming more enlightened and therefore shunning money politics for good governance, saying, “Money will still exchange hands but I think that the majority will still vote in line with their conscience. It has been happening for some time here and that is why we have been able to have good candidates in the state.”
All in all, the public discourse in the state has been centred on whether to go for continuity come next Saturday or to opt for change. But while some have yet to make up their minds, others have already made their decisions.
For instance, Ikeagwu, whose money was on continuity, said, “The campaigns have been calm and peaceful, but there have been the promises and vituperation from politicians, saying they would do this and that – the usual political talks. But the normal parlance is that ‘the devil you know is better than the angel you don’t know.’
“Obiano is building Umueri International Cargo Airport, security in Anambra is very good, workers are not being owed salaries and he is also improving on other sectors.”
But Akilika, who countered Ikeagwu, was of the opinion that some of the achievements attributed to the governor had come at a huge cost to the public.
He said, “Yes, he bought vehicles for the police and took some other sundry actions on security, but he did that at a highly questionable cost to the state. The previous government bought vehicles and did so many things and the cost was barely N360m. But the governor inflated the cost of maintaining security in the state to N1bn, which was unwarranted. We are not happy about that.
“The previous administration operated a very lean government. But a situation where a governor has over 1,000 aides and so on is unprecedented in the political history of the state. It is unthinkable, unwarranted. People are suffering from the high cost of governance.
“Within two years of his governance, Anambra moved from stable state to a borrowing state. The question is that even if there was the need to borrow, what does he have to show for it? This a state where the governor opted to build an airport city project near his hometown.”
But whatever decisions are made by residents of Anambra next Saturday, it is the hope of political analysts that the outcome of the election will be in the best interest of the state and its people.
Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwoof the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere yesterday, ruled that suspected kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike alias Evans and others have case to answer on two separate charges filed against themby the Lagos State Government .
The two separate charges bordered on kidnapping, possession of firearms, murder and attempted murder.
Evans had on October 23 rebuffed attempt by the state government to arraign him and others on the ground that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the charges.
Inability of the court then to take Evans’ plea and those of the other defendants made Justice Taiwo to adjourn the matter then.
One of the charges preferred against Evans and others included an attempted kidnap of the Chairman of The Young Shall Grow Motors, Vincent Amaechi Obianodo.
Evans and second defendant, Victor Nonso Aduba, are standing trial on four counts of conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms.
Also, he and three others are facing seven counts of conspiracy, attempted kidnapping, kidnapping, murder and attempted murder The second to fourth defendants are Joseph Ikenna Emeka, Chiemeka Arinze and Udeme Frank Upong.
Justice Taiwo, in her ruling, yesterday, described the applications as misconceived and lacking in merit.
The judge held that the proof of evidence filed by the state in support of the charges disclosed sufficient material worth pursuing by the prosecuting counsel.
The dismissal of the applications paved the way for Evans’ arraignment on two fresh charges.
However, the prosecution could only arraign Evans and Aduba in the first charge. Their pleas were taken on four counts of conspiracy, kidnapping and unlawful possession of firearms, but they pleaded not guilty.
While the prosecution led by Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, could not arraign Evans and three others in the second charge.
The prosecution amended the second charge without attaching proof of evidence to it, which made the defendants’ counsel to raised objection. Evans and others defendants prayed the court to strike out the charge for lack of competence.
Mr. Kazeem however, opposed the application on the ground that filing of charge was in line with laid down rules.
Justice Taiwo in her ruling on the fresh application of the defendants agreed with Evans and the others that failure of the prosecution not to attach proof of evidence to the new charge was a blunder that couldn’t be overlooked by the court. The court held that for the new charge to be deemed proper before the court, the prosecution must follow the due process.
Justice Taiwo, therefore, ordered prosecution to serve proof of evidence on the defendants, in order to proceed on the arraignment of the defendants.
He then fixed December 15 for the prosecution to open its case in the first charge, while the plea of the defendants will also be taken on the same date.
