Posters and handbills by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), calling on Biafrans to boycott election in Anambra State and other states, have flooded streets and roads in Onitsha, and other areas.
The posters had picture of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu with inscriptions like, ‘No election in Biafran land and Anambra State,’ and ‘Vote for referendum’ were pasted at strategic places, telling the people to stay indoors during the November 18 Anambra governorship election.
Police in the state had, last week, arrested two IPOB members with the posters in Onitsha, but, despite that, the group went ahead to circulate the posters and handbills, insisting that governorship election in Anambra State should be boycotted.
The group said it would serve as civil disobedience, pending when a referendum will be conducted for exit of Biafra people in Nigeria.
It was gathered that the posters were seen two days ago with different messages and pictures, while some bore Kanu’s picture while others had the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s picture, telling residents to sit-at-home or boycott the forthcoming election.
Reacting to the boycott call, Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in the state, Mr. Vincent Ezekwueme cautioned IPOB for trying to create unnecessary tension, and said it would be detrimental and despicable if the election is boycotted.
Ezekwueme, however, urged every citizen of the state to participate in the election, just as he advised the people to vote for a candidate that will be responsible for their welfare.
Also, Board Chairman, International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi advised pro-Biafran groups to participate in the election and elect credible people that will pilot affairs of the state and the country at large.
Umeagbalasi, who gave the advice when the leadership of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), led by Mr. Uchenna Madu, visited him in his office in Onitsha, said referendum would come through dialogue and agreement and not by force.
Umeagbalasi noted that the only way to be involved in a democratic society is to participate in the electoral system and not to boycott elections.
He said in as much as he believes in the struggle for self-determination as championed by MASSOB, IPOB and other groups, they must follow due process and peaceful manner to achieve their aim.
The attention of BVI Channel 1 Editorial Board has been drawn to the news emanating from some quarters that the Gubernatorial Election scheduled to hold in Anambra State on 18th Novement ,2017 will not hold afterall and that members of the public are advised to remain indoor.
As a news media,we would have ignored such insinuation as INEC has a responsibility to release the right information to the public concerning the conduct of elections in Nigeria,however the Editorial Board of BVI Channel 1 has a sacred duty to the people which is to bridge the communication gap and give the ordinary and indigenous people an independent and reliable voice.
It is obvious that the Sponsors of election boycott are far from reality and may not be unaware of the negative consequences such senseless action might cause the ordinary people they pretend to be fighting for.The action of the promoters of election boycott is not just retrogressive but portray those behind it as bunch of cowards who cannot confront their perceived enemies frontally.We have reviewed the argument in support of election boycott that boycotting the election will show the world that our people at home want Biafra.Such argument is watery as the most effective way of showing strength and masses support is through electoral poll.However,evidence abounds that the Sponsors of Election Boycott are not in touch with reality but living in the world of illusion .
BVI Channel 1 Editorial Board holds an opinion that Referendum is an electoral process with Catalonia case as a good reference.Those in support of election boycott should go and do further research on the making of a new Nation.It is either you are ready for war or you adopt democratic and legal processes ,though slow but most effective.
Let those in support of Biafra whether within or outside Nigeria form a political movement/party that would give them voice to express their views which includes an alienable rights for self determination.
We at Ochie Igbo have observed that the people fanning the embers of election boycott in Anambra are gaining converts amongst some Igbo youths.
Hence, it has become pertinent to address this matter so as to provide our youths with a more intelligence driven approach in their craving for self determination.
It is worthy of note that Anambra is a very key state in Igboland and should be seen to be at the lead in the effort to align Ndigbo on the path of self redemption.
Unarguably, Anambra holds the ace of distraction and direction for Igbo renaissance. Let us take a historical excursion into the past ‘boycotts’ in Igboland.
In 2006, the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) prevailed on Ndigbo to boycott the 2006 census. The outcome of that unintelligent decision was that Ndigbo recorded a painful turn out of 16, 381,729 – that is about 11.07%.
Since then, the National Bureau of Statistics, National Population Commission, The Ministry of Budget and National Planning Commission have continued to use this record to gazette the national developmental plan. Of course, the Malthusian Theory provides a solid analysis of how population will remain a dominant factor in the indices and dynamics that will determine development of mankind, now and in the future.
Eleven years later, MASSOB in a Vanguard Newspaper publication dated 24 February, 2017 captioned *MASSOB Backs National Census, Regrets Action in 2006*
While MASSOB has regretted its action, the scar and consequences of that cursory and infantile decision abound.It is a paradox of unimaginable proportion how a people that ‘willingly’ kept away from a national program will turn around to be crying for marginalisation.
In 2015 election, the turn out of Ndigbo during that exercise seem to suggest a people ‘traditionally’ nonchalant about political activities. The total number of votes cast by the entire Southeast was less than 3 million. This under representation of the numerical strength of Ndigbo, in a game that is solely determined by number is moribund.
Already, INEC is almost at the third phase of its Continuous Voter Registration, so far, the results from Southeast have shown lackluster and lackadaisical attitude in the exercise.Evidently, Ndigbo have shown uncommon knowledge in trading, but the act is subservient to power. State, development, economics and human destiny are shaped by politics.
Our disposition to political activity makes us approach the negotiation table with timidity. We can’t negotiate from a position of strength. Those who promote this word to mouth dissemination that thrives compulsively on an evil news have no idea the damage their pedestrian stance has done to our political perception.
Alaigbo has been technically made unviable economically through a political process. We are in a terrible infrastructural decay – roads etc. Our God given mineral resources are controlled from Abuja. Yet, Ndigbo have allowed sensitive political decisions to be taken on the streets. God forbid.
Granted that we have been denied headship of any meaningful position in this administration. Can any good politician seeking vote in Nigeria take Ndigbo serious?
Be that as it may, these situations do not justify call for boycott of Anambra election by pro-biafran groups, rather it should form basis for supporting election of a governor that can stand firm against treatment of Igbos as lesser beings in Nigeria.
For the avoidance of doubt, Anambra election provides an opportunity for Ndi Anambra to choose from the plethora of candidates angling for the number one job, the one that will promote the urgent call for restructuring of Nigeria and perhaps self-determination. The promoters of the boycott are urged to have a rethink and imagine electing a governor who speaks same language of self-determination with them and who will oppose deliberate use of armed Fulani herdsmen to destroy our crops and rape our women. They should think of a governor who is one of their own.
By the way, who says that if pro-no-election campaigners boycott the guber election that a governor will not emerge?
The world powers have defined democracy as the only acceptable system, where ‘oppressors’ and the ‘oppressed’ must conform to its dictates, and by so doing find their own salvation. Going outside the democratic framework is perceived as dissent. Perhaps, lacking in the ability to conduct and coordinate themselves and confront their fears.
The Nigerian constitution does not recognise boycott and boycotting cannot invalidate the election result. As a matter of fact, what is needed to win Anambra governorship election is simple majority of votes cast, with at least 25% of votes cast in 14 LGAs out of the 21 LGAs in Anambra state, irrespective of the number of votes cast. Thats is to say that even 14 voters or a family can elect a governor.
Already, INEC is almost at the third phase of its Continuous Voter Registration, so far, the results from Southeast have shown lackluster and lackadaisical attitude in the exercise.
Evidently, Ndigbo have shown uncommon knowledge in trading, but the act is subservient to power. State, development, economics and human destiny are shaped by politics.
Our disposition to political activity makes us approach the negotiation table with timidity. We can’t negotiate from a position of strength. Those who promote this word to mouth dissemination that thrives compulsively on an evil news have no idea the damage their pedestrian stance has done to our political perception.
Alaigbo has been technically made unviable economically through a political process. We are in a terrible infrastructural decay – roads etc. Our God given mineral resources are controlled from Abuja. Yet, Ndigbo have allowed sensitive political decisions to be taken on the streets. God forbid.
Granted that we have been denied headship of any meaningful position in this administration. Can any good politician seeking vote in Nigeria take Ndigbo serious?
Be that as it may, these situations do not justify call for boycott of Anambra election by pro-biafran groups, rather it should form basis for supporting election of a governor that can stand firm against treatment of Igbos as lesser beings in Nigeria.
For the avoidance of doubt, Anambra election provides an opportunity for Ndi Anambra to choose from the plethora of candidates angling for the number one job, the one that will promote the urgent call for restructuring of Nigeria and perhaps self-determination. The promoters of the boycott are urged to have a rethink and imagine electing a governor who speaks same language of self-determination with them and who will oppose deliberate use of armed Fulani herdsmen to destroy our crops and rape our women. They should think of a governor who is one of their own.
By the way, who says that if pro-no-election campaigners boycott the guber election that a governor will not emerge?
The world powers have defined democracy as the only acceptable system, where ‘oppressors’ and the ‘oppressed’ must conform to its dictates, and by so doing find their own salvation. Going outside the democratic framework is perceived as dissent. Perhaps, lacking in the ability to conduct and coordinate themselves and confront their fears.
The Nigerian constitution does not recognise boycott and boycotting cannot invalidate the election result. As a matter of fact, what is needed to win Anambra governorship election is simple majority of votes cast, with at least 25% of votes cast in 14 LGAs out of the 21 LGAs in Anambra state, irrespective of the number of votes cast. Thats is to say that even 14 voters or a family can elect a governor.
It is evident that the argument in favour of boycott holds no water and only subjects Ndigbo and Anambra to more disasters in the days ahead and allowing a candidate who does not have any sympathy for Igbo Interest to emerge.
We must, therefore, encourage the teeming registered voters in Anambra to vote the right candidate and make sure that their votes count.
It is imperative to consider experience of people in other countries, for instance Kenyans and Liberians irrespective of clear-cut ideological differences, the electorates never asked for election boycott, rather they stood behind candidates that most promote their interests and ideologies. Catalonia is fighting for their independence using constitutionally recognised platforms and regional elected representatives that enjoy massive legitimacy and support of Catalonians. These events have caught the attention of world renowned mainstream media. Anambra election is a referendum in itself and only the pro-no-election campaigners can make Ndigbo to lose the election to the agents of our rivals masquerading as candidates in the coming election, who do not want anything good in Alaigbo. We should bear in mind that electing a pro-Igbo interest governor outweighs a million street protests. It is better to have our own in charge, than having an enemy in charge.
We therefore urge our brothers to stop the boycott campaign forthwith and prevent the plunging of Anambra into an impending unprecedented bad leadership that may end up destroying the state.
Posters and handbills by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), calling on Biafrans to boycott election in Anambra State and other states, have flooded streets and roads in Onitsha, and other areas.
The posters had picture of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu with inscriptions like, ‘No election in Biafran land and Anambra State,’ and ‘Vote for referendum’ were pasted at strategic places, telling the people to stay indoors during the November 18 Anambra governorship election.
Police in the state had, last week, arrested two IPOB members with the posters in Onitsha, but, despite that, the group went ahead to circulate the posters and handbills, insisting that governorship election in Anambra State should be boycotted.
The group said it would serve as civil disobedience, pending when a referendum will be conducted for exit of Biafra people in Nigeria.
It was gathered that the posters were seen two days ago with different messages and pictures, while some bore Kanu’s picture while others had the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu’s picture, telling residents to sit-at-home or boycott the forthcoming election.
Reacting to the boycott call, Chairman of the Civil Liberties Organisation (CLO) in the state, Mr. Vincent Ezekwueme cautioned IPOB for trying to create unnecessary tension, and said it would be detrimental and despicable if the election is boycotted.
Ezekwueme, however, urged every citizen of the state to participate in the election, just as he advised the people to vote for a candidate that will be responsible for their welfare.
Also, Board Chairman, International Society for Civil Liberties and the Rule of Law (Intersociety), Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi advised pro-Biafran groups to participate in the election and elect credible people that will pilot affairs of the state and the country at large.
Umeagbalasi, who gave the advice when the leadership of Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), led by Mr. Uchenna Madu, visited him in his office in Onitsha, said referendum would come through dialogue and agreement and not by force.
Umeagbalasi noted that the only way to be involved in a democratic society is to participate in the electoral system and not to boycott elections.
He said in as much as he believes in the struggle for self-determination as championed by MASSOB, IPOB and other groups, they must follow due process and peaceful manner to achieve their aim.
A 45-year-old man escaped jail after a South African judge gave him a five-year suspended sentence for raping his neighbour’s puppy.
Fanroi Mochachi, a married father-of-six, was caught having sex with his neighbour’s puppy after a child heard the animal howling in a communal garden.
Mochachi was caught having sex with eight-month-old Blackie by her 10-year-old owner and his uncle after they heard the pet’s cries.
He claimed he had caught two dogs mating on his way to a shared toilet and was overcome by temptation, chased the male mutt away and had sex with the female one.
A magistrate, Syta Prinsloo, branded the dad’s disgusting session as “serious, unnatural and barbaric”.
“Worse still is that you are married and a role model to your six children.
“Upsetting is that you will be expected to engage sexually with your wife, how will you explain this to her?”
Mochachi got a suspended five-year jail sentence after he pleaded guilty to bestiality in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The slap-in-the-wrist sentence has, however, spurred a wave of criticism from Prevention of Cruelty to Animals as well as the Women and Men Against Child Abuse.
Both organisations expressed concern about the sentence as Mochachi was now “roaming the streets unchecked”.
They called for harsher sentence “regarding the sexual violation of animals who, like children, are completely helpless to stop such violent attacks on them.”
Ebube Nwagbo is the type of woman that would make many men drool, but the actress has said she wants to ‘take her time’ before getting married.
Speaking with Sunday Scoop, Nwagbo stated, “I believe that everything happens at the right time, which is the time that God ordains. I don’t like abandoning things halfway; I prefer to stick with it till the end. That’s why I have to be very careful about marriage. I don’t think divorced couples go into their marriages with the intention to split. It is because issues came up that they couldn’t handle or that they did not know one another well enough before getting married. Anyway, I have learnt from the mistakes of other people and whenever I make my decision, it just has to be the right way.”
On her experience with some male fans, she said, “Some of them can be quite extreme and I always put such people in their place. I try to relate with people equally, irrespective of class or status. However, most of my fans are pleasant and I love them all very much. I appreciate all the females too. But I also want fans of celebrities to know that as humans, their favourite actor or artiste wouldn’t always be in the best of moods. They should try to be a bit more understanding.”
The National Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Chief Victor Oye, on Monday, alleged that two lorry-load of sensitive materials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, meant for the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State were intercepted in a hotel in the state.
Oye said this at a press conference at his residence in Amawbia, Awka South Local Government Area of the state.
The APGA chairman alleged that security agencies in the state intercepted the materials at an undisclosed hotel and two persons were arrested in connection with the discovery.
But when our correspondent contacted the Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Garba Umar, on the telephone for his reaction on the mater, he described the allegation as false.
He said, “There was nothing like that. It’s a false alarm.”
The INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in the state, Dr. Nwachukwu Orji, described the allegation as laughable.
Orji stated that INEC’s sensitive materials could hardly come that early to the election, adding that when such materials arrived in the state, they would be in a bank.
Oye told journalists that the sensitive materials, containing everything for the poll in wards, local government and state, were intercepted in two trucks by security operatives.
He said he had a strong suspicion that an opposition party in the state was the mastermind of the act.
The APGA chairman added, “This afternoon, in a hotel in the Okpuno area of Awka, security agents intercepted two-lorry load of sensitive materials meant for the Anambra governorship election, and it is believed that an opposition party in the state was responsible for the act.
“We called this conference to draw the attention of Nigerians and the world to this sad development because the Anambra governorship election must be free and fair. We will not accept any act of rigging.
“We had believed in the capability of INEC and the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to conduct a free, fair and credible election in the state, but we are already disappointed by this sad development.”
BVI Channel 1 is using the Biafran ideology of equity,fairness and justice to serve you.We have always believed that our people have suffered enough and should not and never be allowed to suffer any more.
The best way to show our people love is to serve them , to give them excellent and first class treat devoid of propaganda and to always tell them the truth and nothing but the truth.
In a society that has lost her moral values,in a society where majority of the people cherish lies and abhor truth,BVI Channel 1 has been standing alone in the renew mission to remain consistent in giving the ordinary people an independent global voice they deserve.
It is the opinion of the Editorial Crew that truth stands the test of time, therefore we must continue with our gospel of truth no matter whose ox is gored.
You can now send news around your community to BVI Channel 1 whatsapp line +234-8104207522 for prompt publication .Tell the world your story in the spirit of Democracy in Nigeria.
Italian prosecutors are investigating the deaths of 26 Nigerian women, most of them teenagers whose bodies were recovered at sea.
There are suspicions that they may have been sexually abused and murdered as they attempted to cross the Mediterranean.
Five migrants are already being questioned in the southern port of Salerno. A Spanish warship, Cantabria, docked there, carrying 375 migrants and the dead women, following several rescues.
Twenty-three of the dead women had been on a rubber boat with 64 other people.
Italian media reports that the women’s bodies are being kept in a refrigerated section of the warship.
Most of them were aged 14-18.
Most of the 375 survivors brought to Salerno were sub-Saharan Africans, from Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana, The Gambia and Sudan, the daily La Repubblica reports. Among them were 90 women, eight of them pregnant and 52 children.
There were also some Libyan men and women on board.
People-smuggling gangs charge each migrant about $6,000 (£4,578) to get to Italy, $4,000 of which is for the trans-Saharan journey to Libya, according to the Italian aid group L’Abbraccio.
Many migrants have reported violence, including torture and sexual abuse, by the gangs. So far this year,, 150,982 migrants arrived in southern Europe by boat from North Africa, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) reports.
Of that number, 111,552 (nearly 75 percent) came via the Central Mediterranean route to Italy. The number who died on that route was 2,639, the IOM says.
Others arrived in Greece, Cyprus or Spain. The total is less than half the 335,158 who arrived in the same period of 2016.
Last year the total for Greece was higher than that for Italy.
Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria (MCN), Dr. Chukwuemeka Kalu Uche, has said the present structure of Nigeria should be re-negotiated, with each zone having some measures of autonomy.
He said the current structure is inimical to the growth and development of the nation.
Uche disclosed this in an interview with newsmen at the MCN, Diocese of Ogbomoso, Oyo State, after a programme to commemorate one year of consecration of Right Revd Ademola Moradeyo as a bishop, installation of patron and patroness for the children in the diocese and presentation of awards of excellence to notable Nigerians and foreigners.
The awardees included Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, Pastor Femi Adesina, who was honoured with Excellence Award of the Faithful of God; Minister of Communication, Alhaji Adebayo Shittu (Great Pillar of Trust); former governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala (Grand Patron of the Diocese); wife of the MCN Prelate, Florence Uche (Grand Matriarch); wife of immediate past Prelate, Abimbola Makinde (Grand Matriarch); and scores of other achievers.
Uche said: “The idea of coming to Abuja is not helping us and that’s why we have massive unemployment. Each area knows her needs. So, if we re-negotiate Nigeria, we are not going to divide, each area will have a measure of autonomy, just as it was before the military takeover, that’s what we are clamouring for.
“We want a Nigeria where the component parts, whether we call them regions or zones, will be stronger than the centre. Everybody will contribute and agree to a percentage of her wealth to the centre.
“If we want the present zoning of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which is in line with the zoning of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), that will be nice, so that we may have the South East zone, South West zone, South South zone, North East zone, North Central zone and North West zone. Each area produces something that will be her contribution to the centre.”
“We may only retain police, immigration, army, security forces for the federal set up. We can have something like vigilante group or community policing for the various areas or regions.
“This will make for healthy competition. What we are doing now is not helping us and we are not getting better. We all love Nigeria. If you go to the United States, immigration for instance has a measure of control; the measures, the governors, that’s what we want for our country so that we can develop. What we are doing now is a unitary government and unitary government is a military in conduction, it is not helping us.”
The Prelate further stated that presidential system of government “is also very costly because each member of the House of Representatives has special assistants, this and that, and that takes a lot of money.
“To also make the local government stronger, separate the account of the local government from the state government, give them money directly and supervise them closely how they use the money given to them.”
Uche also charged Nigerians on obedience to God, saying everybody should be selfless. Everybody should think more of Nigeria than thinking of self. We must think of what we can do to improve our country and the most important thing we must do is to empower our young people.
“If we want to go into mechanised agriculture, we will go. In our system of education, talking about cognitive alone is not helping us. Education has to do with cognitive, affective and psychomotor. Psychomotor has to do with vocational education, where people will be employers of labour and not seekers of job. That will help us.”
