NO fewer than 250 victims of snake bite have died in the last three weeks in Plateau and Gombe states, following scarcity of anti-venom drugs in the country. The figure represents confirmed deaths from three snake treatment centres— General Hospital, Kaltungo; Ali Mega Pharmacy, Gombe, and Comprehensive Medical Centre, Zamko, Plateau State.
Visits to the three medical outfits show victims in critical conditions, with some of them left on bare floors, as the doctors said they were helpless without the anti-venom. It was gathered that the snake anti-venom drugs— Echitab Plus ICP polyvalent and Echitab G monovalent— had not been supplied to the country since August, after the last vials were used up in the first week of October.
The missing anti-dotes
Echitab Plus ICP, produced at Instituto Clodomiro Picado, University of Costa Rica, treats bites from all venomous snakes in Nigeria, while Echitab G, produced by Micropharm Ltd., United Kingdom, is solely for carpet viper bites. Medics, who spoke with journalists at the three treatment centres, said the cases of snake bites were usually very common during the harvest season. “We receive an average of 50 victims every day; some arrive here in very critical conditions and we just have to watch them die because we are helpless,” Abubakar Abdullahi Aliyu, Managing Director, Aliyu Mega Pharmacy, in Gombe disclosed. He said that more than 70 victims had died in the last three weeks following the lack of anti-venom to treat them, adding that some came from Adamawa, Taraba, Bauchi, Borno and Plateau states. His words: “An average of six deaths is recorded daily. If you go to the snake treatment centre at the Kaltungo General Hospital, you will pity the victims; the lucky ones among them get supportive treatment, while many are left to their fate since the drugs are not available. “Between August and October, we received 750 victims. We were given 700 vials of the anti-venom on August 31, but we exhausted them before October. Many people are just dying. It is a major crisis.” Aliyu said the only available drug— Indian anti-venom— is not effective in the treatment of the bites from carpet vipers, the commonest poisonous snakes in the country. “We have tried the Indian anti-venom, but it does not elicit much response. Sometimes, we give six vials and more to a patient, but the effect will be minimal. If we had Echitab drugs, one dose is enough to cure a patient.”
Task for FG
The pharmacist urged the Federal Government to promptly step in to assist Echitab Study Group, the outfit coordinating the supply and distribution of the Echitab drugs, to make them available. The Snake Treatment Centre at the Kaltungo General Hospital, Gombe State, equally presented a sorry sight with helpless patients gasping for breath, while the medics watched helplessly. Dr. Abubakar Ballah, the Snakebite Treatment Officer, disclosed that the situation was “sad and scary. “We have a serious crisis here. In the last one week, 139 patients were admitted with 77 absconding when we appeared helpless, owing to the non-availability of the anti-snake venom drug. “Some were unconscious when they were brought here. Sometimes, it is corpses that are brought to us. “In the last few days, we have recorded 21 deaths. The figure is more because many of those that absconded were in bad shape; many others did not even bother to come here because of the fore-knowledge of lack of anti-venom in the centre. “The last drug was used on October 13. We try to give Vitamin K to the victims to enhance blood clotting in the absence of anti-venom because bites from the viper snakes cause bleeding, which is difficult to control without anti-venom. “It is a critical period, but we are helpless. This is why we call on the government to work with the Echitab Study Group to provide a lasting solution to this menace. “Already, some criminals are faking the drug and selling it at N43,000 per vial, contrary to the original anti-snake venom sold by the Echitab Study Group between N13,500 and N30,000. “What we must avoid is a situation where desperate people produce fake drugs. We must work toward an effective handling and supply of the drug to guarantee quality and ensure that only genuine drugs are supplied to the treatment centres.’’
…lists solutions
Dr. Ballah urged government to treat the issue as a national emergency, adding “the need for the snake anti-venom should be seen as a security issue with its necessity equated with having an Army, Customs service, Police force and other security agencies. “The government should work with the Echitab Study Group to have a reliable supply channel; government should subsidise the cost to avoid a major crisis like the one in our hands now, because we find it difficult and embarrassing to explain the situation to our patients.” Reacting to the non-availability of the snake anti-venom drug, Dr. Nandul Durfa, Managing Director, Echitab Study Group, representative of the two companies that produce the anti-snake-venom drug in Nigeria, blamed the situation on the “late placement of order for its production.”
As Nigerians, we are bound to obey the Nigerian law. It is expedient to emphasis on the reasons for the establishment of the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra which is the De Facto government of the Biafrans until they gain their independence. The Rule of Law abhors anarchy, breach of peace, breach of public order and propensity to lawlessness. For this reason and in obedience to the Nigerian Customary Law the Elders of Biafraland rose up to gather their children together and guide them in their struggle for independence to avoid anarchy, lawlessness and bloodshed. By our Customary Law, it is the duty of the Elders of the land to gather their children together and guide them appropriately. The Biafrans are no longer like sheep without a shepherd. If Nigeria breaks up today as predicted by the American experts, it is the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra headed by the Supreme Council of Elders that will gather the people together.
By the jurisprudence of Section 315 of the Nigerian Constitution which recognises the validity of the Sharia law and Customary law as existing laws in force before Nigeria and its Constitution were created, if the country should disintegrate by an act of God, there would not be any more legislative houses to make laws but only the Sharia laws and Customary laws of the people would survive. The Northerners are wiser to have elevated their Sharia Government into statutory government by passing the Sharia Bill into law in the Northern States’ Houses of Assembly. The legal implication is that the Sharia Government in the North, having been given statutory existence by the State law, has become a State organ that should be financed by the State. They have therefore established their Sharia Police and other Sharia Government organs to enforce the Sharia law in the North. This is a wonderful legislative engineering performed by the Northern politicians and I commend them for their foresight.
The Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra is not fortunate to have intelligent politicians to pass their Bills into law in their States’ Houses of Assembly. It appears that their politicians are afraid to talk about their indigenous identity as Biafrans. At the moment therefore, the Indigenous People of Biafra under the Supreme Council of Elders are pursuing their organizational goals by self-help efforts. We advise all the Indigenous People of Biafra to support and obey the Supreme Council of Elders. It is unfortunate that Nnamdi Kanu, who was in charge of their Radio Station called Radio Biafra, instead of promoting the Supreme Council of Elders, suddenly became stubborn, disrespectful, incorrigible, recalcitrant and abusive to the Elders and Dignitaries of the land for which reasons the Elders ostracised him after several efforts to correct him had failed. The Elders rightly invoked their powers under Customary Law and disciplined their erring child to instil discipline in him.
The Structure to hold the Biafrans Together in times of Crisis- The Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra.
8.1 There is palpable fear that anything may happen at any time to cause the disintegration of Nigeria without the fault of anybody. In such a situation, we call it an act of God. The prediction by the American experts that Nigeria would disintegrate within 15 years from 2005 has not yet failed. Many people thought that the Americans gave the year 2015 in their prediction but that is a wrong interpretation. In their Report in 2005 they predicted the fall of Nigeria in 15 years’ time. As an expert in the science of estimation, I know that there is always an acceptable margin of error in forecasting. Sometimes, it can be plus or minus 5%; or plus or minus 10%; the lower the margin of error the higher the accuracy of the estimation and closer to the line of best fit if measured by the use of standard deviation. In effect, the American experts’ prediction of the fall of Nigeria has not yet failed.
8.2 It is our duty to prepare the people for anything that may happen in the future. I have said it in my previous statements that our mission is to set the Biafrans free from Nigeria but not to destroy Nigeria. I gave examples of many nations that gained independence in the past without destroying their host countries. From Biblical 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. South Sudan came out from Sudan in 2011 without destroying Sudan. Why do people think that Nigeria would not survive if the Biafrans should go and establish their own country?
8.3 I want to allay the fears of the owners of Nigeria that their country would survive if they let us go and build our own country as the Egyptians allowed the Israelites to go. The foreigners who have invested in Biafraland will remain the owners of their investments. We shall remain friendly neighbours as the Israelis and the Egyptians are today, as the Pakistanis, Bangladeshis and Indians are today. The Nigerians will not need visas to come to Biafra and the Biafrans will not need visas to go to Nigeria because both nations are under the ECOWAS Treaty. Moreover, any Nigerian who wants to maintain dual citizenship is free to apply to become a Biafran citizen if he meets the requirements under the Immigration Law. Also any Biafran who wants to maintain dual citizenship can retain his Nigerian citizenship just as many Nigerians today are British and American citizens. Why are the people afraid? They are afraid because they lack knowledge of the law. The Bible says that the people perish for lack of knowledge, Hosea 4:6. 8.4 It is in preparation for the unknown that the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra has been established as a de facto government structure that can hold the people together in times of crisis. It is not Ohaneze Ndigbo. Its jurisdiction covers all the Indigenous People of Biafra living in the three contiguous regions of the South East, parts of the South-South and parts of the Middle Belt of Nigeria. Ohaneze Ndigbo is only for the Igbo Nation but the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra headed by the Supreme Council of Elders is for the entire Biafraland. The composition of the Supreme Council of Elders must therefore be representative of the entire Biafraland. It is not an Igbo affair. All the officers of the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra are hereby advised to commence effective mobilization and communication to gather the people together under the Supreme Council of Elders. It is the duty of the elders of the land to put their house in order. Let us do it now before it is too late. I hereby authorise the Media Department of the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra to publish this message in booklets and distribute it to the whole world where the Biafrans are found.
Signed: Emeka Emekesri, Esq. Solicitor for Indigenous People of Biafra
The Indigenous People of Biafra on Thursday described as “a shame” the Ohanaeze Ndigbo leadership and the South-East governors failed bid to clinch the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to the geopolitical zone.
President Muhammadu Buhari recently appointed Mr. Boss Mustapha as the new Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
This was after the President accepted the recommendation of the panel to terminate the appointment of the former SGF, Mr. Babachir Lawal.
In a statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, IPOB said its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, was visionary and prophetic to see that there was no place for the Igbo in Nigeria.
The group’s statement read in part, “The Indigenous People of Biafra under the command and leadership of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the greatest prophet, seer and visionary of all time, notes with sadness and utter humiliation, the belittling of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, South-East governors and the entire south-eastern political class over the rejection of an Igboman for the lowly position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation by Buhari’s administration.
“Despite lobbying discreetly and openly for this somewhat inconsequential position of SGF for months, the entire political class in the South-East were roundly rebuffed by Muhammadu Buhari, who instead gave the position to another northerner.“This has left the supposed apex socio-cultural organisation to take to the pages of newspaper to vent their frustrations at Buhari; a very unedifying spectacle unworthy of leaders of a once proud and gifted race.
“To make matters worse, this public rejection of Ohanaeze Ndigbo and repudiation of the values of the Igbo political elite by the Buhari administration is a confirmation, if such were needed, that the hasty proscription and banning of IPOB was a costly mistake on their part.
“They failed to appreciate that without the impetus and urgency that IPOB provided, any request made to the government of Nigeria to right the injustices meted out to south-easterners is bound to fail.”
Nigeria last night in Lome, Togo emerged the inaugural champions in the men’s category of the 2017 FIBA 3X3 Africa Cup beating Cote d’ Ivoire in the final game 21-9 points.
The Nigerian team led by Azuoma Dike left no one in doubt in the encounter after dispatching Egypt 21-14 points in the semi-finals and were unstoppable, as Abdul Yahaya who scored 39 points in five games left the Ivoriens confused. Godwin David and Lucky Subel gave a good accounts of themselves to ensure victory for Nigeria.
Dike was also named the Most Valuable Player and led the list of the top three players that included Tisiane Traore of Cote d’ Ivoire and Elly Randriamampionona of Madagascar.
However, Mali women were a stumbling block for Nigerian girls in the final, winning 12-11 in a keenly contested game that left Nigeria Silver medal winners.
Mali’s Nassira Traore was at her best for her country in the final game and was named the championships Most Valuable Player that also paraded Jamla Nasikombi of Uganda and Nigeria’s Nkechi Akashili making up the list of top three women players in the first FIBA 3X3 Africa Cup.
A group of Niger Delta Elders, under the aegis of Pan-Niger Delta People’s Congress (PNDPC), have established contacts with the leadership the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) over the threat of renewed hostilities and bombing of oil facilities in the region.
The NDA, through its spokesman, General Murdoch Agbinibo, had declared that the militants would resume hostilities in the Niger Delta region with “Operation Red Economy,” which is targeted to cripple the country’s economy over the foot-dragging of the Federal Government in the peace process in the region.
The threat by NDA is said to have set alarm bells ringing in security circles in the Niger Delta region, prompting some concerned security officials to reach out to influential elders to talk to the militants.
The media coordinator of the PNDPC, Olorogun Monday Whiskey, confirmed that the elders had reached out to the leadership of the NDA, soliciting that they consider sustaining the existing peace in the region by embracing dialogue with the Federal Government.
Whiskey, who explained that the people of the region are having sleepless night over the threat by the NDA, said the overtures made to the militants was being looked into by the High Command of the NDA
“We reached out to them and prevailed on them that dialogue is the best option. We also told them that we believe in equity, justice and fair play. We believe the APC-led Federal Government should not create room for questionable characters to negotiate, based on selfish notion for the people of the region. The Niger Delta Avengers should be reasonable in their threats and the Federal Government should also be proactive on the issues of the region. We also told the Niger Delta Avengers to be reasonable and that 24 hours is not enough to resolve the demands they have made on Federal Government. We believe that the contentious issues of the region need time to be resolved. The Federal Government should give peace a chance and treat all sections of the country equally,” he said.
A source within the NDA said the militants are studying the appeal from the Niger Delta elders and would come up with a position after a crucial meeting with its commanders.
The source said oil communities are backing the NDA over its planned operation because of the attempt by some influential politicians from the Niger Delta region to hijack the oil pipeline surveillance contracts.
Prof Charles Chukwuma Soludo is one of the best brain(s) around the entire South Eastern part of Nigeria ,within Africa as a whole and among the best 10 chosen economic gurus the contemporary world could boast of.The people of Anambra State is lucky to produce such much celebrated macroeconomic wizard.Below is Prof Soludo conviction about the structure of Nigeria:
Consolidating the States into Six Regions
The current six zonal structure is perhaps a good starting point, with perhaps Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Abuja as special territories (Lagos as the commercial capital; Abuja as political capital, and Port Harcourt as the oil city). The point is that we need to consolidate the current fiscally unviable entities called States that helplessly depend on Abuja even to pay the salaries into fiscally and economically viable regions. The aggregation will eliminate the unbelievable waste and duplication in bureaucracies and free up resources needed for investment. Economies of scale resulting from the consolidation of states will ensure, and the savings from the wasteful duplications of bureaucracies will create an infrastructure investment boom. Competition among the regions as was the case before the oil boom and ‘creation of states’ could unleash a transformation boom, with one or two regions becoming bigger than the current Nigerian economy in the near future. We look forward to seeing regional interconnected rail lines. Private sector-led regional power plants and water schemes will make sense, etc. The current States could still exist as provinces within the regions for purposes of service delivery. The bottom line is for the federating units to be fiscally viable entities, because only then can they drive different economic transformation agenda.
The Man Soludo: He has this to say about himself;
I believe that God has a purpose and a plan for everyone. From my very humble beginnings, it is only through the grace of God that I could have earned a Distinction grade at the secondary school; a B.Sc (First Class Honours) (Economics); an M.Sc. and a Ph.D (Economics) winning Departmental, Faculty and University awards as best graduating student at the University of Nigeria. I had cumulative four years of post-doctoral training and research in some of the world’s best institutions including the Brookings Institution, Washington, DC; University of Oxford, UK; University of Warwick, UK; Cambridge University as Smuts scholar; UN Economic Commission for Africa; the IMF Research Department, etc. I am a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers (FCIB); Fellow of the Nigerian Economic Society (FNES), and awarded Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) (Honoris Causa) from three Universities.
I was visiting Associate Professor at Swarthmore College, USA, and promoted Professor of Economics at the age of 38 (University of Nigeria, Nsukka). I lived and worked in Ethiopia, U.K., and the USA and travelled to 45 other countries before joining Government in 2003. As consultant to 18 international organizations (including the World Bank, IMF, OECD Paris, European Union, African Union, USAID, UK-DFID, ADB, IBM Consulting, USA; IDRC Canada; Chemonics International, USA; United Nations, UNIDO, ECOWAS, COMESA, CODESRIA, UNCTAD; AERC Nairobi) I garnered wide ranging experiences and knowledge. I was also the founding Executive Director of the African Institute for Applied Economics, Enugu. I have to my credit over 80 scholarly publications, 15 books, and over 250 monographs, conference papers and public lectures.
At the Federal Government (2003 – 2009), I held five substantive positions: Chief Economic Adviser to the President; Deputy Chairman/Chief Executive of the National Planning Commission (of ministerial rank by law); Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria; Chairman, Nigeria Security Printing and Minting Company (NSPM), Plc; Founder and Chairman, Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), as well as membership of more than 25 technical/policy committees. These assignments saw us draft the Government’s reform agenda (National Economic Empowerment and Development Strategy, NEEDS); massively restructured nonperforming government institutions; rebuilt the CBN and NSPM; revolutionalized the Nigerian banking/financial system; set up a new international financial institution, AFC, and helped to steer the Nigerian economy away from the global financial crisis. For these accomplishments, I have been decorated with scores of awards, including being awarded the African and Global Central Bank Governor of the year, 2006 by the Banker (Financial Times) and the Financial Times of London has described me as “a great reformer”. The Federal Government has conferred the third highest national honour (Commander of the Federal Republic, CFR) on me in 2006— in recognition of accomplished performance.
Recently, I have served as a member of the United Nations Commission of Experts on the Global Economic and Financial Crisis. Also, I have served as a member of the International Advisory Group for the UK- DFID, and still member of the 7- man Chief Economist Advisory Council of the World Bank. Immediately after completing my tenure of office as Governor of the Central Bank, I have accepted three international offers.
I served the Federal Government of Nigeria under two Presidents and below are excerpts of what each had to say about my services to Nigeria:
“Charles Soludo is a true Nigerian. He is the sort of Nigerian that we all know we can rely on. Among his numerous virtues is COURAGE. I have found in him a man who can take tough and realistic decisions, stand his ground, educate others on the salience of his decision, and work very hard to ensure that the decision is efficiently and effectively implemented. His dedication to duty is first rate. His leadership qualities are admirable and his willingness to listen and learn is simply infectious.
Professor Soludo has within a short time emerged as one of the leading lights of our nation. Not because he has a godfather but by sheer hard work, loyalty, dedication to duty, commitment to the nation, creativity, and undiluted association with the reform agenda, ”. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR (December, 2004)
President Yar’Adua had the following the say about the CBN under my leadership:
“… the CBN has performed creditably well in delivering on its core mandates. This is especially even more so in the last five years. Most people would agree that without the successful banking consolidation and effective management of our foreign reserves, the current global crisis would have shaken the financial system and our national economy to their foundations with calamitous consequences”; President Yar’Adua (May 2009).
In the President’s letter of commendation after completion of my tenure of office, the President had the following to say:
“As your tenure as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria comes to a glorious end, I write on behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria to place on record our debt of gratitude to you for your dedicated service and uncommon sense of duty over the past five years. I am confident that your worthy antecedents in the CBN and in prior appointments in the service of our nation remain sources of inspiration to an entire generation. As I wish you even more astounding successes in the years ahead, it is my fervent hope that you will readily avail us of your distinguished service when the need arises in the future” (June 2009)’
Ifeanyi Okoye has this to tell BVI Channel 1 ‘ Our understanding is that after Obiano,power will be shifted to Anambra South and Prof Soludo is being tipped to continue from Obiano.Obiano is not the best but he has remained committed to igbo project and has ensured that Ojukwu legacy has not been abandoned even when Peter Obi deviated .For the sake of a giant like Prof Soludo,we shall all vote for APGA come 18th Nov,2017’.Ifeanyi Okoye from Amawbia Town told BVI Channel 1 Reporter that his community will do a protest vote against Buhari APC and Peter Obi betrayal.
The right to self-determination has assumed a widespread contest between the “sovereign” and “peoples”. This contest basically revolves around the quest for the acquisition of territories by the “peoples” and the desire to hold unto the territory by the sovereign. The question therefore arises as to whether international law is determined to bring two doctrines into a collision course.
Is sovereignty at war with the right of self-determination. How has the international law instruments been able to regulate the contest vis a vis the enabling instruments on the subject. On the other hand, can it be realistically affirmed that all sovereign nations has fixed boundaries already determined without recourse to legal contests over boundary adjustments. Is it a primary requirement for peoples seeking to exercise their right to self-determination to precisely articulate the boundary limits under international law. By Article 1 of the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States; the state as a person under international law should possess the following qualifications; that is; a permanent population; a defined territory; government; the capacity to enter into relations with other states as well as diplomatic recognition.
These qualifications are the attributes of statehood under customary international law. Practice however shows that meeting these stated criteria is neither necessary nor sufficient for an entity to become a state. Indeed a state does not emerge automatically; independence would need to be an entitlement under international law. Outside of colonialism, this is completely different. In the process of decolonization, the only territorial relationship to be altered was that with the metropolitan power. Achieving independence did not come at the expense of another sovereign’s states territory or that of an adjacent colony. Outside of colonialism, the right of self-determination needs to be squared with the principle of territorial integrity. The sovereign with the monopoly to use violence can contest the right of the self-determination seeking entity to acquire territory from the mother state. The experience of the Catalan “peoples” and the sovereign state of Spain in October 2017 is a classic example in this direction. In reaction to the present state of affairs, Spain on 29 October, 2017, imposed a direct rule on that region. A close look at some national constitutions would be relevant in this regard.
Section 2 (1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as Amended provides; “Nigeria is one indivisible and indissoluble sovereign state to be known by the name of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”. From the foregoing, it is unthinkable to contemplate that the Government of Nigeria will be ever willing to lease, rent or allow any portion of her territory to any person, group of persons or any foreign aggressor or illegal occupation by terrorists. On the other hand, Article 39 of the Ethiopian Constitution provides;
“Every nation, nationality and people in Ethiopia has an unconditional right to self-determination, including the right of secession, provided;
a. The demand must be approved by two-thirds majority of the members of the Legislative Council’
b. The Federal Government will organize a referendum within 3 years on the receipt of the request for secession.
c. There must be a majority vote from the referendum.
d. There shall be a transfer of power to the council or people concerned, and;
e. The division of assets in a manner prescribed by law”.
The Ethiopian constitution recognized the right of self-determination and it cannot therefore be an issue for the Ethiopian Federation to consent to allowing any part of its territory from being taken over if the people have duly followed the prescriptions stated in Article 39. However, some legal scholars have criticized Article 39 as creating an unworkable form of central government by making it too easy for the country to break apart. These scholars further assumed that the inclusion of Article 39 in the 1994 Constitution came about as a compromise between the central government and the regional representatives. Under this assumption, the central government reluctantly included Article 39 in the Constitution in order to appease regional calls for self-determination rights by minority populations who were inspired by Eritrea’s secession in 1993. The central government needed to include Article 39 in order to garner support for Ethiopia’s regional governments and preserve the country’s national integrity. However, a recent development has demonstrated that these assumptions are probably incorrect. The new theory on the incorporation of Article 39 has all the hallmarks of a grand conspiracy theory which implicates the highest levels of the Ethiopian Government. It involves a far reaching plan with long term goals. It involves the use of violence and under handed politics in order to perpetuate fraud on the Ethiopian people. The theory holds the view that Article 39 is intended to loot Ethiopia of its resources for the development of the Tigray Region whose people occupy key government institutions and thereafter secede from Ethiopia.
The preponderance of whichever theory is right will be determined by a latter research in this area. However, it goes to show how the political class can manipulate the people in given instances to suit particular purposes. It is my assumption that every nation, nationality or people in a given territory cannot be conferred with the automatic right of self-determination given that it simply creates a license for anarchy and confusion in a given polity.
To address the question whether or not territorial requirements is a legal consideration in self-determination seeking entities, there is the need to critically examine the South Sudanese model. From the legal analysis, the requirement of statehood stated in the Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States is not a condition precedent to self-determination. The territory of South Sudan cannot be said to have had a compositely defined territory prior to independence. Notwithstanding, South Sudan declared independence on 9 July, 2011. International recognition followed promptly on 14 July, 2011 when South Sudan became a member of the United Nations. There is no controversy arising from the independence of South Sudan. Controversy however arises in relation to the new international delimitation. The agreed border between Sudan and South Sudan in principle follows the former colonial boundary in existence on 1 January, 1956 when Sudan gained independence. The Republic of Sudan announced that it recognized the Republic of South Sudan as an independent state in accordance with the existing borders of 1 January, 1956. This formed the basis of recognition by the Republic of Sudan.
Interestingly, South Sudan invokes an exception to the 1956 boundary. Article 1(2), Part 1 of the Provincial Constitution of South Sudan provides: “The territory of the Republic of South Sudan comprises lands and air space that constituted the three former Southern Provinces of Bahr el Ghazel, Equatorial and Upper Nile in their boundaries as they stood on 1 January, 1956 and the Abyei Area, the territory of the nine Ngok Dinka Chiefdoms transferred from Bahr el Ghazel province to Kordofan province in 1905 as defined by the Abyei Arbitration Tribunal Award of July 2009.
As outlined in the constitutional provision, in 1905 the Abyei Area was transferred from a Southern to a Northern Province. Abyei protocol, which is included in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, also defined the disputed territory as the area of the nine Ngok Dinka Chiefdoms transferred to Kordofan in 1905. Since the boundaries of the disputed area were unclear, the Abyei protocol established the Abyei Boundary Commission in order to define and demarcate the area geographically.
The Abyei protocol further contained a separate referendum to determine the areas future status, either within the northern or southern part. It further specified the 1 January 1956 line between North and South will be inviolate, except as contained in the agreements reached in the referendum. The 1956 line was not adopted in its full context. The Abyei protocol acknowledged the Abyei Area exception to the 1956 line and the final delimitation was to be determined by popular consultation. A separate referendum on the legal status of the Abyei Area never took place. This was due to disagreement between North and South on determining the population eligible to take part in the vote. Accordingly, the Abyei Area boundary was to be determined by an independent commission, while its legal status of the disputed area was to be determined by the expression of the will of the people in a referendum.
International law does not preclude rearrangement of boundaries when new states are created. It is possible that the border arrangement would become a part of the political process, possible, but not necessarily leading to consensual secession. If the leaders of the Independent Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), or the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND) were to be presented with the choice of becoming independent by the Nigerian Government within narrower borders, or not becoming independent at all, becoming independent within narrower borders could have been an appealing choice. But unfortunately, such practice has not yet developed under international law.
In the case of South Sudan, the re-established 1956 boundary has a colonial pedigree. However, the colonial uti possidentis line could apply automatically only if North and South Sudan became two separate states on 1 January 1956. This was not the case, and the emergence of South Sudan as an independent state is not a matter of decolonization as relayed above. It is rather, a situation of a consensual emergence of a new state outside the colonial context. Practice of state creation shows that new international borders are drawn along the most recent international boundary arrangement. The relevance of the 1956 boundary is therefore not in its colonial pedigree. It is relevant because, it was adopted by the internal legal regime of 2005. Since the 2005 boundary is the latest international boundary regime, the 1956 boundary is legally relevant only to the extent to which it was adopted in 2005.
The latest international boundary arrangement in 2005 did not fully adopt the 1956 line. It acknowledged the Abyei Area exception, albeit not by determining its legal status but rather by creating a mechanism for its determination by popular consultation. The consultation never took place. The Abyei Boundary Commission and the Arbitral Tribunal were asked to determine the Abyei Area geographically, they were not asked to determine its legal status. As a consequence, the area is now determined geographically but with the referendum still outstanding, its legal status remains in dispute. Also in dispute are the South Kordofan, Blue Nile, Upper Nile, White Nile and Unity States. Other disputed areas are Heglig, Kafia, Jau, Bahrel and Jodha. Arising from tensions in these disputed regions, the Republic of Sudan and South Sudan agreed in principle on 31 October, 2017 to demarcate the borders by moving away their troops 20 kilometers backwards from the border line.
The proceeding analysis has shown that territorial boundaries need not be fixed or precisely determined by a people in their exercise of the right to self-determination. The South Sudanese model has clearly shown that boundary adjustments can legally continue even after the grant of independence. This is further amplified in the case of Cameroon vs Nigeria (2002) ICJ Reports 55.Here Cameroon in March 1994 contested ownership of the Bakassi Peninsula at the International Court of Justice(ICJ) against Nigeria. The judgment was delivered on 10 October, 2002.The ICJ held that, sovereignty over the Bakassi Peninsula lies with Cameroon and that the boundary is delimited by the Anglo –German agreement of 11 March, 1913.The court noted that the land boundary dispute falls within an historical framework including partition by European powers in the 19th and 20th centuries, League of Nations Mandates,UN Trusteeships and the independence of the two countries. It is interesting to note that this judgment came 42 years after Nigeria gained independence from Britain. Practice has shown that, the sovereign, with the monopoly of violence is skeptical in relinquishing any part of its territory despite the universal recognition of the right to self-determination recognized by the international community. This right has been replicated in the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and domesticated in Nigeria by virtue of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Rectification and Enforcement) CAP A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.
Pic L/R: Abdul Mahmoud for Public Interest Lawyers League;Ariyo Dare Atoye for Coalition in Defense of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution; Bako Abdul Usman for Campaign for Democracy; Charles Oputa,Convener OurMumuDondo Movement;Adeyanju Deji,Convener Concerned Nigerians;Adebayo Raphael,National Publicity Secretary OurMumuDonDo Movement.
In an open letter forwarded to BVI Channel 1 via online platform,the Convener of OurMumuDonDo and the President of All Frustrated Nigerians-Areafada Charley Boy addressed all the angry and frustrated Nigerians mostly the Youths that he is now ready to stake his life for their better tomorrow and that as the Commander of the angry Youths in Nigeria,he would always be there for them.
Below is the the letter in full as forwarded to BVI Channel 1;
‘Fellow frustrated Nigerians,
I have always said that the present and future of Nigeria can only be salvaged by the few exceptional Nigerian youths who are defiantly willing to bell the cat for the freedom of everyone.
In my 66yrs on planet earth as a citizen of Nigeria, I have been privileged to meet outstanding/exceptional young Nigerians who are wired with immense potentials. Only needing proper guidance and encouragement provided by someone they can connect with, a Big brother or Fada figure leader.
As The AreaFada I believe that my divine role is simply to connect the dots and inspire a generation that a better future is possible – if they dare.
I thank God that my life and struggles through my tenacity, consistency, and sagacity, have inspired millions to chase their dreams.
Today in Nigeria, take it or leave it, those who make up the only moral voice for the masses and all disenchanted peoples of our great nation are the exceptional youths of the OurMumuDonDo movement. Also, the young Nigerians in the diaspora who have clearly distinguished themselves in their different fields of endeavor, have not only proved their mettle to the world but they have also placed Nigeria in a good light before the nations of the world. Time and time again, these youths have shown that indeed, a better Nigeria is possible.
The exceptional youths of the OurMumuDonDo movement have proven to the world that it is not the size of the army that counts but the tenacity of the few.
It is on record that when President Muhammadu Buhari was away in London wasting taxpayers money on an undisclosed ailment, it was the exceptional Nigerian youths of the OurMumuDonDo movement that forced him back to Nigeria to carry out his presidential duties. One hand.
Though the price these exceptional youths paid for their highly commendable feat was too steep. How can I forget the young man who took multiple dagger stabs while shielding me. Their courage I will never forget.
Again, for the past two weeks, these same youths have been asking the president to ActOrQuit; to take decisive action against corruption.
When president Buhari refused to disclose the content of the SGF report directly involving the former SGF Babachir Lawal and former DG NIA Ayodele Oke, both of them yet-to-be dismissed at the time, it was these same exceptional youths who drummed up such loud campaign #BuhariActOrQuit, before the president eventually sacked the rogues. Still, these youths have insisted that the president must disclose the content of the infamous SGF report and also ensure that Lawal and Oke are duly prosecuted according to law.
Judging by the meritorious strides of the OurMumuDonDo youths, therefore, I am under no illusion that Nigeria is beginning to discover the critical mass that will rescue her from the accursed architects of mediocre, impunity and colossal failure in governance.
Whilst the exceptional Nigerian youths of the OurMumuDonDo movement continue to stand up to evil defending the present and future of Nigeria, it is crucial for other Nigerian youths who are still sagging and dulling to rise to this call of nationalism and ensure that Nigeria does not perish during their time.
Dear Nigerian youths, the time to organize yourselves into a formidable force is now. There can be no better time to rise and fight for the good of Nigeria. Those who wish to live in a Nigeria that works for everyone without any regard for ethnic, religious, or political slant must identify with the glorious cause the exceptional youths of the OurMumuDonDo movement are fighting.
My people day don break.
The only chains we have to loose is our Fear.
At 66, the only thing I have decided to dedicate the rest of my life to is how Nigerian youths across the globe can reconnect, regroup, reorganize, consolidate and unify to become an indivisible force that will erect a new Nigeria that works for all. For this reason, therefore, I urge all exceptional Nigerian youths to not let this time to make Nigeria great pass them by. Be brave. Be defiant. Be daring. Be inquisitive. Be resilient. Never tolerate injustice.
We must define the mood of our Nation and we must breathe life into our frustration and our shared suffering, so we can jointly fight and find a lasting solution to them. Finally, Never Give Up on our Great country Nigeria!
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has declared 21 days mourning for its members killed during the military invasion of the home of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu at Afara Ukwu, Umuahia, Abia State. This is even as the Biafra agitation group says it has discovered more corpses of her slain members in a bush within the precincts of the home of its leader.
The group equally informed that it is burying the slain members, numbering more than over 28 who were killed during the invasion, in piecemeal with 11 of such bodies already interred.
A senior member of the group, Mark Eze Ofuonye, who disclosed how some of their members were shot dead by the invading soldiers, and their corpses dumped in a bush near the home of the IPOB leader, said: “Some of our members, numbering over 28, were murdered in cold blood by the military during the invasion of our leader’s home at Afara Ukwu. The soldiers were doing a sort of mop up operation; whenever they killed any of our members, they carried away the corpse to conceal their horrendous act but it was not possible.“So, they filled up their trucks with our members’ corpses. The corpses we retrieved and which we are burying at present are those the soldiers could not carry.They just came out with the intention of killing any human being or living thing that was found in the compound of our leader. The people they met were not armed still they shot them, even people just standing nearby and those passing through the area were caught in the attack.”
Continuing, Ofuonye said: “The corpses we are burying now (referring to the day of the interview) were found inside the bush. They were shot by soldiers and they ran into the bush with bullet wounds thinking that they could receive help there but no help came their way and they died inside the bush. Some of the dead bodies were discovered last week inside the bush at the back of Nnamdi Kanu’s house. The 28 were those ones that were killed within the axis of the house of our leader. But the total number killed within this range is 305 persons.”
The IPOB chieftain who said there was no need for the operation by the Nigerian army as members of the group did not carry arms neither were they violent, added that the leadership of the group declared the 21-day mourning for their slain members.
Disclosing that those killed were from the Eastern heartland, Ofuonye said that in addition to burying the dead, the group is also treating the injured and taking care of the imprisoned ones.
“We lost very vibrant and lovely youths who were just peacefully asking for their rights, but the Nigerian government chose to use brute force on them. Some of our members, who were forced to drink poisoned water, have been defecating blood and we are also treating them. About 76 of our members were dumped in Aba prisons under the most inhuman condition and many of them are ill. A lot of things are being done against our members, but the most beautiful thing about all these things is that the horrible experience we are passing through is giving us strength. The spirit has risen, the enthusiasm has come because when you look back and see you’ve lost a lovely one, a colleague, going back becomes a very big problem; you can’t go so that it will not look as betrayal. As I speak, we are establishing more zones and new members are coming in, we are winning the war of battle of hearts and minds,” he assured.
He said the 21-days of mourning began October 26. He was emphatic that the struggle would continue, stating: “Because in any struggle, people die, but the only painful aspect of it is that we lost young boys, youths who had bright future. In the civilized world, you don’t touch people like that, no matter what they did, at worst you take them to court; but we have drawn strength from their death and we are not going back.”
He advised the United Nations to send its representatives to the home of their leader at Afara Ukwu to be able to see how soldiers invaded the house of a core civilian with heavy armoury and none of the soldiers sustained any scratch which he said was an indication that despite the propaganda mounted by the Nigerian army, the IPOB members were not armed.
President Muhammadu Buhari has thrown an open challenge to his All Progressives Congress, APC, to free the space for other leaders of the ruling party who are eyeing his seat in the 2019 contest. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar leads the pack of APC chieftains who have shown interest in the next presidential election.
Exclusive details of discussions at the Tuesday’s National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of APC obtained from three prominent members of the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, who attended the meeting, show that the President threw the challenge soon after the well attended NEC meeting kicked off and motions were being moved for consideration by party leaders.
According to the details, the motion seeking an automatic second term ticket for Buhari was the first at the meeting and it was moved by a party chieftain from the North, simply identified as Alhaji Nosiru. Former Zamfara state governor, Senator Ahmad Sani Yerima, seconded the motion. At that point, it was gathered, some state party chairmen at the back of the hall were shouting ‘No vacancy in Aso Rock.’ President Buhari then raised his two hands and pleaded that the motion be stepped down to avoid closing the space for other aspirants who may be nursing presidential ambition on the platform of the party. “President Buhari intervened after the motion was moved and seconded. He said there will be no need for that because he didn’t want the democratic space closed. He said ‘let’s allow others to contest, that’s the beauty of democracy.’
“It was after the President’s intervention that Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha in his capacity as the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum moved the second motion seeking to pass a vote of confidence on Buhari and the party’s leadership. Okorocha assured the President that while moving his motion that all the APC governors were ready to go to any length with Buhari and that he can rest assured they will give his aspiration full support and en-bloc”, a party leader from the Northwest who is also a member of national caucus of the APC stated.
The presidency has also confirmed this account of what transpired at the NEC meeting. A similar narration was given by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina in his article at the back page of this edition of Saturday Sun.
According to the presidential spokesman, “The National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held at the party’s secretariat in Abuja on Tuesday. I was there. The atmosphere was friendly, almost convivial. At a point, someone moved a motion of confidence in the Buhari administration. The seconder, a former state governor, added to the motion, seeking an endorsement of the President as candidate for second term in 2019. As he raised the motion, I saw the President gesturing, with his two palms downwards. The gesture meant, please, cool down, not now. This is premature. And the National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, weighed in, accepting the motion of confidence, and deferring the one on automatic candidacy. Everyone was satisfied.”
While stating that what a section of the media reported about discussions at the meeting was largely inaccurate, Adesina said rather than governors shooting down the motion for a second term, it was Buhari who rejected the offer, stressing that “it was the President himself who had dissuaded those who made the move, by his gesture.”
Preparations for President Buhari’s second term bid went into full swing last weekend when his close allies opened a secretariat for the Buhari Support Organisation, BSO in Abuja from where the re-election campaign activities of the President will be coordinated.
Meanwhile, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has said that only Nigerians will determine his fate because of his interest in acts that will help deepen democracy in the country. The ex-VP’s spokesman, Mr Paul Ibe said his boss stands with Nigerians on whatever that will make the country and her democracy better.
Another of Atiku’s aides who pleaded anonymity claimed that reports so far about Atiku contesting the 2019 presidency are mere speculations. He argued that the former VP has processes he follows each time he wants to go for elections stressing that he was yet to activate any of the processes.
Asked to name such steps, the aide said Atiku must seek the face of God, consult his family and meet with key political associates and friends before seeking elections. So far, he said the politician was yet to take any of the steps.
He however challenged President Muhammadu Buhari to publicly declare that he would want an open contest for the ticket of APC instead of speaking through his aides.
