Nigerians heaved a sigh of relief on August 19 as President Muhammadu Buhari returned to the country after 103 days of medical treatment abroad. We welcome him home and wish him good health to continue his service to the nation.
vice to the nation.
The President demonstrated his readiness to resume his duties when he made a nationwide broadcast just two days after his arrival, expressing his views on current events and intimating Nigerians on the way forward.He stated how he kept in daily touch with events at home from the United Kingdom and expressed his heart-felt views about national unity and the need to fight terrorists and criminals relentlessly. He equally warned against the activities of “irresponsible elements” who might foment trouble. Such people often run away, he said, when things get bad and “saddle others with the responsibility of bringing back order, if necessary with their blood.”
We agree with the President that every Nigerian has the right to live and pursue his business anywhere in Nigeria without let or hindrance, and that it is better to live together than to live apart.We also support his proposal to reinvigorate the fight against Boko Haram and kidnappers, as well as quell the farmers versus herdsmen clashes.
The president should, however, address other serious issues that have agitated national discourse in recent times.He should be forthcoming on the resounding calls for the restructuring of the Nigerian federation, which seems to have quickened in recent times. Since the 2014 Constitutional conference, numerous calls have been made by patriotic Nigerians for the restructuring of Nigeria from its present unitary system into a federal system as was originally designed by the nation’s founding fathers at independence, before the military intrusion into Nigeria’s politics.
We think that ignoring those calls has led to even more extreme demands, like secessionist and fissiparous tendencies represented by the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and other groups in the Niger Delta and beyond.In other words, while we sincerely appreciate the president’s determination to maintain Nigeria’s unity, the existence of those tendencies is an indication that the unity must continue, like in all countries, to be discussed and mutually agreed on.
The United States, after 250 years of nationhood, continues to speak of the need to achieve “a more perfect union.” The world’s oldest modern democracy, the United Kingdom, witnessed less than two years ago the agitation of the province of Scotland to secede from the Union.It was put to a referendum.The union was saved because the secessionists lost.
It is easier to pretend that the agitations are merely the handiwork of “the people who lost in the last election”, as some prominent members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have said.It is also easier to institute a crackdown. But, history is consistent that such tactics never resolve difficult national disputes.On the contrary, history tends to honour leaders who have the courage to face such issues with honesty, sincerity and hard work.
An overwhelming majority of Nigerians want to live together as one nation in peace, unity, equality and justice.They need the wisdom and patriotism of our leaders to do so.
Lagos – A Federal High Court in Lagos, yesterday, ordered the final forfeiture of N7.6 billion being loot recovered from a former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke. This came on a day Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, led a protest to the headquarters of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Abuja, demanding the extradition of Diezani Alison-Madueke, former Minister of Petroleum Resources, from the UK to Nigeria.
Justice Abdulazeez Anka granted an application by the EFCC, seeking the final forfeiture of the money to the Federal Government. He said: “I have read the motion on notice seeking the final forfeiture of the sum of N7.6 billion reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity. “I have also gone through the affidavit in support of the application. In the circumstances, I am of the view that the application has merit and is hereby granted as prayed. Parties have a right of appeal.” Moving the application, the EFCC counsel, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, said the money was part of “huge sums of cash” allegedly diverted by Alison-Madueke from the various subsidiaries of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
According to him, it was fraudulently converted from NNPC by Mrs Deziani Alison-Madueke. Oyedepo added that the anti-graft agency published an advertorial after the court ordered the money’s temporary forfeiture, but no one came forward to claim ownership. In a supporting affidavit to the application, an EFCC investigator, Mr Usman Zakari, said he was part of a team of operatives who investigated an intelligence report that huge sums were laundered by Alison-Madueke. He said the N7.6billion was allegedly looted through former Group Managing Director, Crude Oil Marketing Department, Gbenga Olu Komolafe . Others are the Group Managing Director, Nigerian Products Marketing Company, NPMC, Umar Farouk Ahmed, Stanley Lawson, Babajide Sonoiki and some bank chiefs on behalf of Mrs Alison-Madueke. Zakari said Mrs Alison-Madueke called a bank chief to her office for a meeting where she informed him that some officials of her ministry would be bringing funds to his bank. She allegedly directed that the “funds must neither be credited into any known account not captured in any transactional platforms of the bank.”
Meanwhile, entertainer, Charles Oputa, popularly known as Charly Boy, yesterday, led a protest to the headquarters of the EFCC in Abuja to demand the extradition of Diezani Alison-Madueke from the UK to Nigeria. The protesters, who converged on the premises of the anti-graft agency, wielded a banner which comically read, ‘Bring Back Diezani Alison-Madueke’. Charly Boy said: “Nigerians are suffering, while she, like many other looters, is enjoying in London. “Let her come and clear herself, and if that is not possible, let them assist the United Kingdom to prosecute her, because corruption must not go unpunished.” The entertainer and activist maintained that the group was set to stage a series of daily sit-out in front of the EFCC headquarters until their demand was met.
Responding on behalf of the commission , the Secretary to the EFCC, Mr. Emmanuel Aremu, said the commission would take necessary steps to ensure that Diezani was repatriated to answer the allegations. He, however, urged the group to exercise patience while keeping faith with the commission as it delivers on its anti-graft mandate, saying due process must be followed in Diezani’s case.
I, Barr. Vincent Egechukwu Obetta, Director STREETLAW AFRICA INC. on
behalf of all Indigenes of the South East Zone of Nigeria resident in the Northern
parts of Nigeria, (hereinafter referred to as Ndigbo resident in the North), hereby
issue the following World Press Statement that:
1. On 11/07/2017, I, on behalf of Ndigbo residents in the North, filed 3
suits at the Abuja Federal High Court (FHC) and ECOWAS Court
respectively, comprising (a) A Motion for an Order of Mandamus of the
FHC, compelling the Inspector General of Police (IGP), to arrest and
prosecute WITHIN 7 DAYS, all such Persons led by one Alhaji Yerima
Shettima under the aegis of Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF), who
on 06/06/2017, issued a Treasonable Notice to Ndigbo in the North, to
vacate the Region before the 01/10/2017, or else …. (b) A Fundamental
Rights Enforcement Suit filed at the FHC, against Alh Yerima Shettima, the
IGP and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), to enforce the
Fundamental Rights of Ndigbo in the North, to move freely throughout
Nigeria, and to reside in any part thereof, as guaranteed them under Section
41(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended (c) A Fundamental Rights
Enforcement Suit filed at the ECOWAS Court, against Alh Yerima
Shettima, the IGP and the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), to enforce
the Fundamental Right of Ndigbo in the North, to move freely throughout
Nigeria, and to reside in any part thereof.
2. I hereby put the above Respondents on Notice that if it pleases the
Hon Court to grant the above Mandamus Order as prayed, and the IGP fails
and neglects to comply with such Order of Mandamus of the FHC within the
timeline thereon specified, I would have no other choice than to proceed to
the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Holland, to press
Criminal Charges against them, of Aiding and Abetting a second Genocide
against the Ndigbo in the North, the first Genocide having taken place in
1966 with no one held to account in that regard, till date.
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My Criminal Suit for such second Genocide against Ndigbo in the North,
will be filed against (i) Alh Yerima Shettima (ii) The IGP (iii) The Attorney
General of the Federation (AGF) as the Chief Law Officer of Nigeria (iv)
Prof Ango Abdullahi and (v) Prof Yemi Osinbajo as the Ag. President of
Nigeria when the 06/06/2017 Threat of a second Genocide against Ndigbo in
the North, was issued.
The IGP, AGF and Prof Yemi Osinbajo would be charged before the ICC as
above stated, for looking the other way, and deliberately failing / neglecting
to arrest and prosecute Prof Ango Abdullahi, Alh. Yerima Shettima and his
Group, etc, since the 06/06/2017 when this DESPICABLE Threat was
issued against Ndigbo in the North; and thereby Aiding, Abetting,
Condoning and Encouraging a second Genocide against Ndigbo in the
North.
3. Should it become necessary to proceed to the ICC due to a REFUSAL
by the IGP to PROMPTLY comply with above Order of Mandamus,
NOTHING will stop us from revisiting and pressing Charges at the said
ICC, against ALL the Ringleaders of the 1966 Genocide against Ndigbo in
the North.
4. It has just been announced with cynical fanfare, that the above AYCF
has ‘suspended’ its 6/6/17 ‘Quit Notice’ against Ndigbo in the North. I
hereby wish to make it categorically clear that this so-called suspension of
the Quit Notice CANNOT in law, extinguish the GRAVE OFFENCE
committed by Alh Yerima and his Group against Ndigbo in the North, on
06/06/17. Alh. Yerima MUST be arrested and prosecuted alongside other
Ring-Leaders of the AYCF, for their TREASONABLE THREAT against
Ndigbo, to quit the North before the 01/10/2017. NOTHING short of such
Arrest and Prosecution will suffice to settle above 3 Suits, as filed.
5. It is no longer News that the cynical silence and manifest bias of the
FGN and its Agencies since the 06/06/2017 when the Treasonable Threat
against Ndigbo was issued, has encouraged and opened a floodgate of ‘Hate
Speeches and Songs’ currently awash on the Internet.
6. Ndigbo in the North and indeed all over Nigeria, have been the butt /
victims of Cynicism, Oppression, Repression and Extreme Marginalization
since the end of the Civil War on 15/01/1970. Ndigbo in the North have ever
since, been serially and SEVERALLY attacked and massacred at the
slightest pretext, by Northern Elements such as the Alh. Shettima’s AYCF.
7. Irrespective of all above atrocities daily committed against Ndigbo in
Nigeria, the latter have remained calm and focused on their Businesses and
Enterprises, which have contributed in no small measure to the economic
and social development of Nigeria; all what they get in return is daily
Oppression, Repression, Extreme Marginalization and sometimes outright
massacre in the hands of misguided elements in the North.
8. Worse still, the FGN which Constitutional Duty it is to safeguard the
lives and property of Ndigbo throughout the Federation, has consistently
looked the other way in the face of all above atrocities, thereby aiding,
abetting, condoning and encouraging same.
9. The 1966 Massacre of Igbos in the North, was not only condoned, but
was celebrated by the eminent Northerners who indeed gloated openly, over
the gruesome event.
10. The 1966 Genocide against Igbos in the North, has since the end of
Civil War, been swept under the carpet to the extent that it has been banned
by the FGN, from being mentioned in History Lessons in ALL Nigerian
Schools. Furthermore, it is NOT even allowed to be mentioned in public and
any such mention otherwise, is regarded by the Nigerian State, as Treason.
11. Since 2015 when the Incumbent FGN came to power, the cries and
agitations of Ndigbo against above Repression and Marginalization, have
been equated to Treason against the State, to the extent that unarmed and
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defenseless civilians have been severally shot at and killed by Soldiers of the
Nigerian Army especially at Onitsha, Anambra State.
A recent Report issued by Amnesty International says that not less than 150
such unarmed and defenseless civilians have been shot at and killed by
Soldiers of the Nigerian Army especially at Onitsha, since 2015.
12. It is extremely distressing that coming out of all the recent discourse
across the Federation, (which Discourse has been ignited by the ongoing
Agitations by Ndigbo), Prof Yemi Osinbajo and ALL other eminent / elder
Statesmen have obscenely remarked that in as much as Alh. Yerima
Shettima’s Quit Notice to Ndigbo in the North is condemnable, the ongoing
agitations by the same Ndigbo should STOP FORTHWITH.
That is, they mean that the TREASON committed by Alh. Yerima Shettima
on 06/06/2017, is a befitting Response to the agitations of Ndigbo, which
agitations have since the end of the Civil War, been equated to Treason in
any event.
13. This ABSURD, NONSENSICAL, ILLOGICAL, EXTREMELY
INSENSITIVE and IMMORAL position held as above by our elder
Statesmen, is akin to positing that a child who is being pummeled and
brutalized by his older sibling, can only be rescued from his assailant when
he stops crying. That is, for as long as the pummeled child continues to cry,
the Pummeling is justified and MUST continue!
14. A Threat bordering on a flagrant violation of the Fundamental Rights
of Ndigbo in the North, and a Notice to the latter, of a second Genocide
against them should they fail to comply with such Threat, is regarded under
the law as such Fundamental Right already violated, and the Genocide
executed!
15. Under the hallowed principle of ‘ubi jus ubi remedium’ it is hard to see
how the Agitations of an oppressed and marginalized people have violated
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the Rights of any other Nigerian in any manner whatsoever. On the other
hand, the above Threat by Alh. Yerima Shettima and his Group, CLEARLY
violates the Fundamental Rights of Ndigbo in the North.
Notwithstanding, the FGN has as above, perversely and consistently held
that such Agitations constitute an act of Treason against the State, and
therefore DESERVE to be met with Threats of Genocide and Expulsion
from the North, by Alh. Shettima and his ilk.
Gentlemen of the press, may I use this opportunity to thank the United
Nations who issued a statement in Geneva on Friday calling on the FGN to
immediately arrest members of the Arewa youth group.
16. Finally, I hereby call on all men of good conscience all over the World
(US President, UK Prime Minister, President of China Republic etc), to turn
their much eagerly awaited attention to the above deplorable plight of
Ndigbo in Nigeria, and bring their influence to bear, to save Ndigbo from
IMMINENT ANNIHILATION from the surface of the earth! We Must not
allow ugly history to repeat itself in this generation.
LONG LIVE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA!!!
SINGED: Vincent Egechukwu Obetta Esq.
From: Okey Sampson, Aba, Petrus Obi, Enugu, Obinna Odogwu, Abakaliki, and Femi Folaranmi, Yenogoa
Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has warned the Federal Government over attempt to re-arrest him.
The Director of Radio Biafra who stated this, yesterday, at the Boys Technical College (BTC), Aba, Abia State said contrary to thinking in some quarters, he was not going on exile for whatever reason and urged his supporters and those who believed in the Biafra cause to be strong and resolute.
He reiterated IPOB’s earlier stand that there would not be election in Anambra on November 18 or any part of “Biafra Land” in 2019 unless there was referendum.
“We are going to boycott Anambra State election. After Anambra 2017, in 2019, there’ll be no elections in Biafra land. Signed and sealed. My message is that there’ll not be election in Biafra land ever again until they give us date for referendum.”
He paid tribute to the IPOB members allegedly killed at National High School, Aba, by security agencies.
“Aba is the spiritual capital of Biafra land. We started in Aba in 2015 at CKC (Christ the King Catholic Cathedral). That day, heaven authenticated our move that IPOB will restore Biafra and that’s what we’ve come to do. We died in Aba; At National High School.
“They shot and killed us in other places in Biafra land when they were protesting for my release. As our people rest in the grave, we’ll never rest until Biafra is restored. I don’t care what they say in Abuja. I don’t give a damn what they say in Lagos.
“I’m a Biafran and we are going to crumble the zoo. Some idiots who are not educated said that they’ll arrest me, and I ask them to come. I’m in Biafra land. If any of them leaves Biafra land alive, know that this is not IPOB. Tell them that’s what I said,” he said.
He condemned those calling for restructuring in place of Biafra as he said there was nothing enticing that will make the Igbo remain in Nigeria.
“Some people talk about restructuring, are we doing restructuring of Nigeria now? Are we doing fiscal federalism? Are we doing devolution? What we want is Biafra!
“Forget all the nonsense they write about us. We are not slowing down and no man born of a woman can stop us. They thought we are joking and God gave us a simple message that no one can stop us. The movement to restore Biafra is unstoppable.”
“The message of heaven is what I bring to you. Don’t be afraid. The plans of our enemies are not going to be actualised. The enemies are planning, but we are formidable,” he declared.
IPOB members who were at the venue vowed to join hands with Kanu to ensure that Biafra was realised, no matter the time frame.
Meanwhile, the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB), has vowed to resist any attempt by the Federal Government to re-arrest Kanu.
In a statement issued by its leader, Uchenna Madu, and National Secretary, Ugwuoke Ibem Ugwuoke, the group said the entire people of Biafra would resist attempt to re-arrest him.
“This subtle and smart plan of Buhari-led Nigeria is a sign of frustration and jittery. These plans will never work as MASSOB and the entire people of Biafra will squarely resist it.
“We warned that no harm should befall Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as he represents the genuine interest of Ndigbo. He is the most celebrated Igbo man today. The introduction of Biafra Security Service is not for any confrontation or violence with security agents. There is no intention or plan to involve violence or arms struggle into Biafra actualisation and restoration struggle.
Ijaw Youths also condemned the Federal Government over moves to re-arrest IPOB leader.
IYC in a statement by Eric Omare accused the Federal Government of double standards by treating other youth groups in the country engaged in agitations with kid gloves.
Charles Oputa, otherwise known as Charly Boy and his OurMumuDonDo group, on Monday, stormed the offices of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to demand fort the extradition of a former Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke from United Kingdom to face charges of corruption while she was in office.
After initial delay by the policeat the entrance of the street leading to the EFCC, the protesters were allowed in to meet withthe secretary of the Commission. Details later…
Mr. Tony Nwoye, one of the contestants for the guber ticket of the APC in the Anambra forthcoming election has won other aspirants.
Nwoye won with a wide margin of 2146 votes.
The next to him, Senator Andy Uba trailed by a distant 931 votes.
The rest are Paul Chukwuma 110. Nonso Madu 21. George Muoghalu 525. Barth Nwibe 414. Tony Nwoye 2,146. Donatus Okonkwo 10. Johnbosco Onunkwo 85. Chike Obidigbo 22.
The member representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency in House of Representatives, Tony Nwoye, yesterday pulled a surprise when he beat 11 others to emerge the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming governorship election.
Nwoye who was the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the 2013 governorship election in the state, beat other top contenders including the member representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Andy Uba, the national auditor of the party, George Moghalu and Bart Nwibe.
Nwoye got 2146 out of the 4333 votes cast, while Uba came a distant second with 931 votes.
Moghalu polled 525 votes, followed by Nwibe with 414 votes, Paul Chukwuma got 110 votes, JohnBosco Onunkwo 85 and Dr. Chike Obidigbo who had earlier announced his withdrawal vie a letter to the national chairman of the party dated August 24, 2017 received 22 votes.
Others, Madu Nonso polled 21 votes, Patrick Nwike 20, Dr. Obinna Uzor 17, Donatus Okonkwo 10 and Uchegbu Kate Adaobi one vote.
The primary election which started very late on Saturday with accreditation commencing around 12.20 pm came to a conclusion with the declaration of the final result by the Chairman of the election committee and Governor of Borno state, Alhaji Kashim Shettima at 4.20 pm yesterday.
Delegates had to defy the rain that started midway into voting in the night to file out and were drenched as they were determined to vote for the aspirants of their choice.
At a stage in the night, some aspirants became restless when their agents informed them of certain moves by their opponents to lure the delegates to their side and that kept some of them awake all night, while some took a little nap and continued the vigil.
While declaring the result of the election, Governor Shettima said the primary was a very tedious one but was the easiest because of the commitment of the committee to do the right thing and not compromise.
He commended the party leadership in the state and the national team from Borno, Kano and other states, and paid tribute to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the security agencies for providing adequate security for the exercise.
Shettima also commended the Minister of Labour and Employment, Sen. Chris Ngige who he described as a man of honour and a true democrat. He said, “APC is a work in progress and posterity would judge this committee fairly because they came with the cleanest of heart and noble intentions”.
He said that his committee deliberately avoided including the Governor of the state, Chief Willie Obiano, in the election, hence giving the room to provide a level playing ground for the aspirants.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after being declared winner of the election, Nwoye said all glory should be returned to God as it is a victory not only for the party, but for everyone..
He extended a hand of fellowship to his opponents and called on all members of the party to work hard and go all out to mobilise voters so that APC would emerge victorious at the polls.
When contacted for his reaction, one of the aspirants, Chief Moughalu said, “I have no reaction for now.”
An agent of one of the aspirants that lost in the election, when asked to comment on the outcome said, “What is there to react to again? The election was very transparent to the best of my knowledge.”
Ijaw Youths have condemned the federal government (FG) over moves to re-arrest the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
The FG had few days ago hinted in court processes it filed that it wants to re-arrest Kanu over allegations that he had breached his bail conditions.
But IYC in a statement by Eric Omare said the FG is displaying double standards by treating other youth groups in the country engaged in agitations with kid gloves.
According to the group, the actions and body language of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration shows deliberate institutionalisation of double standards in national affairs.
It warned that the arrest of Kanu would heat up the polity with unimaginable consequences.
The advised that “It is the height of nepotism and sectionalism for the Buhari’s administration to treat the Arewa youth leaders who committed serious offence bothering on national security with kid gloves and being hosted to state dinners while leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kalu is threatened with arrest and several Niger Delta activist languishing in detention.
The way the Arewa youths were treated clearly justifies our earlier position that the quit notice was politically motivated and had the backing of the Hausa/Fulani political class. The IYC is convinced that if the Arewa youth leaders were to be members of IPOB or from the Niger Delta region, they would have been in DSS underground detention cells by now.
The IYC condemn this institutionalization of double standard in national affairs by the Buhari administration in the strongest terms. We wish to state clearly that with the way and manner the Arewa youth leaders were treated, the Buhari administration has lost the justification to threaten to arrest Mr. Nnamdi Kalu or any other agitator in the southern part of Nigeria. Nigerians ought to be treated equally irrespective of their place of origin or ethnic background. We also strongly advise against the planned revocation of the bail and arrest of the leaders of IPOB, Kanu.
The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB), Sunday vowed to resist any attempt by the federal government to re-arrest the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, (IPOB) Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and other principal leaders of Biafra agitation.
In a release issued by its leader, Uchenna Madu, and National Secretary, Ugwuoke Ibem Ugwuoke, which was made available to newsmen in Abakaliki, the group said that it that the plan cannot work as the entire people of Biafra will fight against such move.
The statement partly read: “This subtle and smart plan of Buhari led Nigeria is a sign of frustration and jittery. These plans will never work as MASSOB and the entire people of Biafra will squarely resist it.
“We warned that no harm should befall Mazi Nnamdi Kanu as he represents the genuine interest of Ndigbo. He is the most celebrated Igbo man today. The introduction of Biafra Security Service is not for any confrontation or violence with security agents. There is no intention or plan to involve violence or arms struggle into Biafra actualization and restoration struggle.
“Even in the face of persecution, blackmails, verbal deceit and political delusions of Hausa/Fulani people, we shall continue to maintain our non violence posture. Biafra spirit can never be intimidated or subjected to mere propaganda or blackmails. Biafra agitators can never be intimidated by threats of arrest and imprisonment” the statement concluded.
The Movement for Biafrans in Nigeria, MOBIN, has accused the Chekwas Okorie-led United Progressive Party, UPP, of changing the delegates list for the primary of the party in order to favour a certain interest. This is just as one of the two governorship aspirants of the party, Hon Chudi Offodile, called on the party to stick to due process by adhering to the guidelines and constitution of the party in all its activities.
Addressing newsmen in Awka last Thursday ahead of the party’s primary election slated for Saturday, August 19, in his office, Offodile described as illegal, the alteration of the delegates list of the party, insisting that no organ of the party could unilaterally remove a ward chairman, secretary or indeed, any officer duly elected, and engage in what he called whimsical replacements.
It will be recalled that the Anambra State Chapter of the UPP had recently announced the suspension of its two guber aspirants, Offodile and Osita Chidoka, on trumped up charges, a development that was followed by the dissolution of the state executive committee of UPP by the national headquarters of the party.
But Offodile said such action reminded one about happenings in the military era, describing the action of the national headquarters as beyond its powers.
‘If the action of the state executive was curious, equally curious was the reaction of the national headquarters. Why dissolve a state executive committee four days to a primary election in which the state executive committee has crucial roles to play? Offodile queried.
He said that it was the threat by the national headquarters that triggered what he called the indiscriminate and bizarre suspensions unleashed by the state exco on August 15, even as he referred to an interim order by an FCT High Court which directed the defendants to follow the party’s timetable/guidelines and constitution in all their activities, pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion.
He gave the issues at stake as whether elected and inaugurated members of the local government and ward committees could be unilaterally amended or altered by any member of the party outside the local government area congress and ward congress that elected them; as well as whether any member or any other person of the party, other than the state chairman, could preside over the state congress for the governorship election in line with Article 12 (11) and (35) and Article 23 (3) of the party constitution.
He said that the two issues must be resolved in order to preserve and protect the integrity of the party’s primary election, especially following the court order for the adherence of the party to due process.
But reacting to developments in the party, MOBIN which says it is an affiliate of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, under the leadership of Committee of Elders, stated that it had become necessary for it to address the public on its quest for the self-determination of the Biafran people through due process of the law, which, it pointed out, included political, diplomatic and judicial processes.
Speaking through its director general, Mrs Eberechukwu Anigbogu, MOBIN said it had consequently reached an agreement with the national leadership of UPP to form a partnership for building the party as a Biafran brand.
On the trending matter in the party, MOBIN said it was against established democratic norms, while condemning what it called the fragrant violations and bizarre abuses perpetrated by the leadership of the UPP at national level, as led by Chief Chekwas Okorie.
It said the UPP national leadership instead of ratifying the delegates’ list for conducting the Anambra State governorship primaries, chose to sit in its Abuja national secretariat to mutilate the list by adding and removing names, re-designating several elected officials, with the single aim of deciding for their nefarious purpose, those who should be the delegates for the Anambra primaries against the express provisions of the UPP Constitution and the Electoral Act.
‘This was done in such a bizarre manner that a particular candidate has already been favoured by the doctoring that went on across board in all the LGAs of the state. This act of impunity saw a man taking up the position of women’s leader in some wards, dead people taking the posts of chairmen and many chairmen downgraded as vice or other offices.
‘Some were even taken off completely. What an act of rascality by people bestowed with public trust!,’ she stated.
Using the Anambra East LGA Ward executive list as an example of the said mutilation that occurred in all the LGAs, MOBIN claimed that Anambra East LGA had a total of 15 wards which gave a total of 75 delegates. It said that each produced 5 delegates namely: Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer, Women’s Leader, and Youth Leader.
She said that in Nando Ward III, the entire list was excluded by the national, even as it also gathered that the reason for the ‘strange exclusions of some ward lists by the national exco was for the perceived absence of party members loyal to their favoured candidate, and replacements of which they were working out as we speak.
‘These illegal and fraudulent re-designation and replacements of elected officials is purposely meant to deny these authentically elected ward executives their rights to vote at the Anambra guber primary. As said, in some cases, the entire lists submitted by the State EXCO for some wards were totally thrown out and new names imported. It is important to state at this juncture that many of these imports are not UPP members but drafted for the purpose of using them for the primaries only.
‘How can you go to primary with this level of manipulation and criminality? Where’s is the Biafra Ideology? Where’s the fairness? Where is the Democracy the UPP has promised?’ she queried.
Consequently, the group vowed never to be part of a system that upheld injustice, criminality and impunity, adding that it could never support any candidate that emerged from the skewed process, even if he was a pro-Biafran.
It said that MOBIN, being a political arm of the Indigenous People of Biafra that went into an alliance with UPP, insisted that the party must do what was right before the law by respecting the party constitution.
The DG of Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria, MOBIN, Mrs Eberechukwu Anigbogu, 2nd from right, reading an address at a press briefing to protest what they called mutilation of delegates list by the UPP hierarchy, Aug 17, 2017, in Awka.
For working against the tenets of democracy and showing disrespect to human life, principles which are contrary to the Biafran ideology, the United People’s Party, UPP, has failed Biafra. These were the opinions of the former guber aspirant on the party’s platform, Hon Chudi Offodile, and a pro-Biafra group, Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria, MOBIN, Jude Atupulazi reports.
Briefing newsmen in Awka in the wake of the UPP gubernatorial primary election also in Awka, Chudi Offodile, who withdrew from the primary over alleged doctoring of the delegates list, announced his resignation from UPP.
According to the two-time Federal House member, apart from the wilful and corrupt manipulation of the party delegates list by the national chairman of the party, Chekwas Okorie, the party’s gross insensitivity to the life of a party member who slumped and died at the accreditation venue, finally convinced him that UPP was not the right party for people of good conscience.
He recalled that despite his call on the party to call off the primary as a mark of respect to the dead, the party went ahead with the said primary which, he alleged, was doctored to favour his opponent, Osita Chidoka.
He said it was what compelled him to reconsider his continued membership of UPP, hence his resignation.Offodile’s resignation came at the same time that a pro-Biafra group, Movement of Biafrans in Nigeria, MOBIN, is also considering opting out of its alliance with UPP.
Its spokesman and administrator, Comrade Anthony Aniebue, who stated this at a press briefing in Awka, condemned UPP led by Chief Chekwas Okorie for, according to him, acting against all known democratic norms.
In his media briefing, Offodile recalled how efforts he made to draw the attention of the party hierarchy to the doctored list before the primary failed to have the desired effect.
He accused the party leadership of reversing and doctoring the delegates list that emanated from their ward and local government congress in June this year which was signed by the state chairman and secretary and counter signed by the national headquarters of the party.
He said that everyone was surprised when a new list that contained strange names was later published on the party’s website on July 29 and variously amended on the 4th and 5th of August.
‘The website list contained strange names with no phone numbers unlike the authentic delegates list that had phone numbers of all delegates displayed,’ Offodile said.
He further alleged that when accreditation commenced on the day of the primary election, he was informed that only those whose names appeared on the website list were being allowed into the venue, a development, he said, that prompted him to drive to the venue to hand a protest letter to the election committee chairman, Chief Ejike Uche, and the state party chairman, Dr Sylvester Igwilo.
He said that after threatening them with withdrawal from the primary if they insisted on using the allegedly doctored list, he also went to the office of the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC, to register his protest.Offodile said he did not appoint any agent or participate in what he called the Kangaroo primary.
He said that it was in the midst of the scuffle trailing the disenfranchising of some delegates that the police fired tear gas canisters on the crowd, leading to the slumping and death of a delegate, Hon Uwakwe Maduabuchi, chairman of Owerre Ezukala Ward 1, Orumba South LGA.
He said the deceased, even though his name appeared on the list, was fighting the injustice of the exclusion of some of his members whose names had appeared on the original list.
He said that following the man’s death, his call to the election committee to call off the exercise in deference to the dead fell on deaf ears.
‘When the call fell on deaf ears and considering that my Christian faith and the Biafran ideology we profess place a high premium on human life, I promptly withdrew from the exercise. I consider it unconscionable for the party to have carried on with the primary under the circumstances,’ Offodile explained.
He expressed regret that despite the party’s constitutional provision that only a ward congress could replace those elected officers whose names went missing from the new list, the national chairman, Okorie, unilaterally replaced them across the 264 wards in the state, thus giving himself, what Offodile called preference shares in the primary and in his ”dream government” in Anambra State.
Offodile therefore called on his supporters and all those who believed in Biafra’s ideology of freedom and justice to do same, while awaiting further directives from him.
When contacted for his reaction, the state chairman of the party, Dr Sylvester Igwilo, said there was no need to talk about the issues raised by Offodile since Offodile had left the party.
Igwilo said the primary which he had no powers to stop, had been done and dusted and that there was no further need to revisit it, especially after he had earlier spoken extensively on it.’There’s no point crying over spilt milk. The primary has come and gone,’ Igwilo stated.
Hon Chudi Offodile displaying the list of delegates allegedly doctored by UPP leadership for the primary election of the party.
