1. To all officers of the Customary Government of IPOB.
2. All interested Biafrans.
Please be reminded of the coming Town hall/Executive meeting of all officers of the Customary Government scheduled for Sunday, 13th Aug 2017 by 11am
Interested Biafrans who want to be part of their Community Customary Government or who want to nominate persons to be part of their Community Customary Government should call the Administrator GG-IPOB Engr. Aniebue Anthony@+2348067473755, +2348035002394,+2348038072613 or the Director for Information GG-IPOB, Vincent Ndubisi Nweke-Anaenugwu@+2348036247812 or the Principal Sec to the Administrator, MC Ekweañua @+2348063326074 for more information.
All officers are expected to be present at the meeting as very serious matter concerning Biafra struggle will be discussed.
Thanks.
MC Ekweañua
Principal Secretary to the Administrator, GG-IPOB.
Following different versions of false news peddled by the Nigerian media and most regrettably, respected individuals, to narrate the very unfortunate incident that happened at St Philips Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu, Biafra Writers, in our culture has dug out the details of this event and how it deteriorated to the August 6 massacre.
Aloysius Ikegwuonu, presently a drug baron in South Africa, was born in 1981 to the family of Chief Ikegwuonu, Amakwa Ozubulu. He grew up in a very poor home and often helped his mother who trades at Orie Akpu market, Off Ugwu Orie Bus Stop, Amakwa Ozubulu.
‘Aloyee’ as fondly called by his friends in his early youth stage, first came to limelight in 1999 when he became the senior prefect of Comprehensive Secondary School, C.S.S., (formerly College of Basic Studies, C.B.S.) Egbema Ozubulu; a school founded by Reverend Father Nwabaju Izuchi, a United States based Catholic priest.
Right after his secondary school studies which he finished after his May/June WASSCE examination in the year 2000, he traveled out to South Africa on March 2001 where he became a multi millionaire within his first four (4) months of his stay there. He came back nine (9) months later (December 2001) and splashed his money around. This was the first major drug deal advert in Ozubulu, a land formerly known for the bravery of her indigenes, tranquility and high moral standards. (This seed Aloyee planted did not take time to bear fruits.)
With this, Aloyee attracted many friends to himself especially his school mates at C.S.S.. They indicated interest to serve him and do whatever he wants them to do as long as they will end up as ‘successful’ as he is and as quick as he made it. There was an exodus of Ozubulu youths to South Africa between the years 2004-2007. With these many people around him, Aloyee who had adopted the name ‘Bishop’ in South Africa needed someone he could trust better. He went for his best friend in the aforementioned secondary school, Ginika Nwoke.
Ginika, alias Giniyee, hailed from Mbaise in Imo State; he is an orphan and the only child of his parents. He grew up with his uncle, Ite Ego (a butcher at Orie Akpu market, Ugwu Orie Ozubulu) all through his childhood and adolescent age. He gained admission to study Psychology at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka in the year 2001 and was living at an unpainted two storey building, a lodge for students, about 100 meters from Unizik temporary site junction. Due to pressure from Bishop, he abandoned his university education just after his 200 level. Giniyee’s room mate at the University was Nonso Ewulu, alias Ajagara Igwe, who studied Political Science in the same university 2001-2005. Ajagara Igwe was also Giniyee and Bishop’s classmate at C.S.S. Ozubulu.
Bishop’s notorious act began with his own mother. He allegedly sacrificed his mother (who had rejected his ill wealth) to occult group. This allegation seemed more truthful when he refused to raised a stone at his mother’s grave. Bishop leveled his father’s home with an interlocking tiles months after his mother’s death and till today, you cannot identify his mother’s grave in his father’s compound.
To douse this rumor, Bishop engaged in an aggressive philanthropic aid. He renovated most churches at Ozubulu (particularly St Michael’s Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu) the Igwe’s palace and instituted a charity foundation. He also penetrated the state government, donates to the state police and the local vigilante groups.
These events were happening so fast, Bishop was audacious, intimidating and energetic. His friends that traveled to South Africa had started complaining about him: his intimidation and oppression; killings had started; it has become the survival of the fittest, the jungle of beasts. More than six (6) people had died, all from Anambra State in some misunderstanding between Bishop’s group of drug cartel and many more groups of drug cartel in South Africa. Even at this stage, no one took any information about Bishop so seriously. Life went on and on and on.
The peak of this crisis was in a clash between Bishop and his best friend, Giniyee. Bishop claimed he handed Giniyee a package (hard drug) to deliver to a buyer buy ended up with some cooked up stories with the intention of duping him. Giniyee denied this, but stated that Bishop’s enemy ambushed him at the point of delivery (in what seemed more like a set up) and made away with the package -a package worth hundred of millions of naira.
It got so heated that it was reported to the Igwe of Ozubulu who summoned the two with their families and pleaded for all to exercise patience till the truth be revealed. Bishop rejected Igwe’s verdict and swore that “isi ga ada” (meaning that ‘head must fall’) within some months if his money is not remitted back to him.
Few months later, the stunning news broke out, September 2015, Ginika Nwoke was shot died in the city of South Africa, the only child, an orphan with a wife and a little girl was killed. An Igbo adage says that “ihe mee onye ara, i mara na onwere mmadu” (meaning that when something happens to a mad man, you will know he has people). Mbaise indigenes made it clear that the only thing that will suffice them is a revenge, Bishop must be killed or a total war against Bishop and his kindred.
Situation started to deteriorate; between October 2015 and March 2017, Ozubulu youths were gunned down on monthly basis in South Africa. The owner of Vacarmata (located around Michael Junction, Egbema Ozubulu) Mr Obinna Ebuzeme, Mrs Nchedo (Nkwado’s wife) and many others, especially the alumni of C.S.S. have been killed.
Since then, Bishop attends occasions with over 50 security personnels, very intimidating entourage, but Mbaise indigenes had not given up. In this latest event, he came back July 2017, he is still being tracked. Investigations revealed that he was to be gunned down on Sunday, August 6, 2017 at St Philips Catholic Church, Amakwa Ozubulu, a church he built himself, from the foundation to the roof. Mysteriously, he got the news and escaped from Amakwa at mid night (Saturday, August 5, 2017).
The killers invaded his church still assuming he was there, opened fire and killed more than a dozen people. To prove it was targeted and purposed to get at Bishop, Bishop’s father ran away the church building with a bullet shot but the killers chased after him and shot him severally to ensure he dies.
OBIANO’S ROLE
Bishop is a very good friend to Willie Obiano, the governor of Anambra State, so we are not surprised that Anambra State forwarded their report in less than two (2) hours. Yes, it’s a drug war as they disclosed but we must disclose it here that Obiano has tactically exempted Bishop from the whole story. From intelligence, Anambra state government is about to frame an innocent young lad up (also an Amakwa indigene). We must speak against this and Bishop must face the wrath of the law.
OUR STAND
We should all take responsibility. Rather than caution Bishop and reject his wealth, he was celebrated and most regrettably, by churches and the government.
Just last year, he invited the murderer-in-chief of Anambra State, Willie Obiano (Governor of Anambra State), the Bishop of Nnewi Diocese and other traditional rulers to celebrate his 35th year birthday; all in a bid to cover up for his atrocities.
Having taken responsibility, we also believe that Igwe Ozubulu should have done better. This matter tarried for too long. It does not take a lot to set up a peace committee between Ozubulu and Mbaise. With this recent massacre, the death toll on Bishop’s case has risen to over 40 people from 2015 till date.
ADVICE
From report, this notorious Bishop has stepped on many toes. This particular attack might not necessarily had come from Mbaise people. Many groups are chasing after Bishop. Hence, we advice Ozubulu elders to ostracize Bishop indefinitely till this matter is resolved.
Churches, the state government and individuals should dissociate themselves from Bishop to discourage our younger generation from desperation for wealth. Any bill board with his image at Ozubulu and environs should be taken down immediately.
We also entreat Ozubulu and Mbaise elders to set up a reconciliation committee. Ginika Nwoke’s family must be approached with all humility, sincerity and respect; not because we believed Ginika’s testimony but because we want peace to return to Amakwa Ozubulu for the sake of the innocent ones and Igbo tribe at large.
There is no amount of killings that will bring back the dead, rather, will provoke each other towards more killings. Therefore, any other group that feels aggrieved towards Bishop’s action should be directed to Igwe Ozubulu for more and more reconciliations.
CONCLUSION
If you do not believe this piece, if you are more interested in believing that Fulani herdsmen left every other church just to attack Bishop’s church, we don’t take your imagination out. We advice you go down to Amakwa Ozubulu and spend good time to make more investigations. If this story is true, if you don’t believe it is true, if you think our report is not sufficient and you have things to add, send us you commendations or contributions (as the case may be), contact us on biafrawriters@ipob.org
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) yesterday said that it has concluded preparations for the conduct the Anambra State governorship election slated to take place on November 18.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ forum on ward levels voters’ registration exercise,held at the Professor Dora Akunyili Women Development Centre, Awka,the state’s Resident Electoral Commissioner, Nkwachukwu Orji, assured political parties and voters of a level playing field in the election.
He said:“We are committed to providing a level playing field for all candidates and political parties. I like to state with confidence that we are ready for the election.”
The REC also stated that the Commission registered a total of 79, 700 eligible voters during the first phase of the nationwide Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
He said the number further increased to 2, 042, 548 between July 24and July 28, 2017, adding that INEC has approved the devolution of the voter’s registration exercise to the ward level in Anambra State to ensure that all eligible voters in the state were registered before the election.
The Naira, yesterday, depreciated in the parallel market, Investors and Exporters (I&E) window even as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) injected $195 million into the interbank market.
Vanguard investigation showed that the naira depreciated by N1 in the parallel market as the exchange rate for the market rose to N366 per dollar from N365 per dollar last week Friday. The naira also depreciated by 94 kobo in the I&E window as the indicative exchange rate rose from N366.44 per dollar last week Friday to N367.38 per dollar at the close of business, yesterday. The volume of dollars traded also dropped to $96.03m from an average of N198.8m, last week. In a statement issued, yesterday, Acting Director, Corporate Communications Department, CBN, Mr. Isaac Okoroafor, announced the injection of $195m into the interbank market. He said: “In the wholesale segment of the inter-bank Foreign Exchange market, the CBN auctioned $100m and also intervened in the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and invisible segments, with the sum of $50 million and $45m respectively.” Okoroafor reaffirmed the bank’s commitment to sustain liquidity in the market to ensure that genuine requests for FOREX are met as well as improve liquidity and flexibility in the market.
Nigerian protesters under the aegis of Concerned Nigerians demanded Monday that President Muhammadu Buhari, receiving treatment in London for an undisclosed ailment for more than three months, either return or resign.
Buhari left for the British capital on May 7 on what is his latest medical trip, appointing Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to act on his behalf.
Dozens of protesters marched in heavy rain to the presidential villa in Abuja with banners urging that the 74-year-old retired general, who headed a military regime in the 1980s, return.
“Resume or resign, Nigerians say enough is enough,” one said, with others stating: “If president Buhari cannot return to Nigeria after 90 days, then he should resign and go home”, and “Buhari, where are you? Nigerians want full disclosure. What is wrong with our president?”
The peaceful march was organised by a coalition of civil society groups under the supervision of security agents.
“We are here today because the president of Nigeria has absconded from duty,” said Deji Adeyanju, one of the organisers.
“He has not only absconded, he has continued to lie to us. This year alone the president has been away for 144 days.
“He was away for 52 days in January and he has been away again today for 92 consecutive days. This cannot continue.”
Buhari has been dogged by speculation about his health since June last year when he first went to London for treatment of what the presidency said was a persistent ear infection.
He then spent nearly two months in London in January and February and said on his return in early March that he had “never been so ill”.
Last month, members of the ruling party and the opposition went to see him in London and even took pictures in an attempt to douse public anxiety.
The health of Nigeria’s leaders has been a sensitive issue since the death in office of president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2010 after months of treatment abroad.
Buhari’s main opponents in the 2015 election that brought him to power claimed he had prostate cancer. He denied the claim.
Child marriage is a human rights violation. Despite laws against it, the practice remains widespread, in part because of persistent poverty and gender inequality. In developing countries, one in every three girls is married before reaching age 18. One in nine is married under age 15.
Child marriage threatens girls’ lives and health, and it limits their future prospects. Girls pressed into child marriage often become pregnant while still adolescents, increasing the risk of complications in pregnancy or childbirth. These complications are a leading cause of death among older adolescents in developing countries.
UNFPA promotes programmes and legislation designed to end child marriage. UNFPA supports evidence-based, girl-centred investments that empower girls with the information, skills and services they need to be healthy, educated and safe, helping them make a successful transition to adulthood. UNFPA also works to support the needs of married girls particularly in family planning and maternal health.
The protest demanding that President Muhammadu Buhari should either resume back to work or resign from office that had pervaded the nation’s capital, on Tuesday turned messy as security operatives fired tear gas canisters at the protesters.
In the clash, one protester was reported injured while many defied the security operatives.
The injured citizen was said to have been rushed to a clinic at the Federal Secretariat complex, a few kilometres from the scene of the incident.
The coalition members were having their sit-out at the Millennium park opposite the Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja when the armed policemen fired tear gas canisters to disperse them.
The participants, however, braved the assault and continued with their meeting for about an hour.
The protesters who are members of about four civil society organisations were demanding that Buhari should return to the country or resign if he was incapacitated.
The Administrator of the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra has approved the appointment of Dave Echezona as the Director, Diaspora Contact Representative to the Customary Government of the Indigenous People of Biafra (CG-IPOB)
This appointment is for a probationary period of 6 months subject to further confirmation by the Supreme Council of Elders. Mr Echezona is expected to coordinate the activities of the Customary Govt of IPOB in Diaspora and report directly to the office of the Administrator. He can be reached via +447448223983 or kingdav4me@yahoo.co.uk
On behalf of the Customary Govt of IPOB, we congratulate Mr Echezona on his new appointment.
One of the survivors of the gory incident of shooting and killing of worshippers in the Church in Ozubulu, Anambra State, south east Nigeria, Sunday, Mr. Ohamadike Stephen has told Daily Sun that: “We were in the church and I was to handle the second reading. As the first reading was still on, I heard a sound like a thunder. I dived under a long form in the church auditorium and from there raised up my head a bit and saw a young man with a fez cap shooting and people ran in all directions for safety in confusion.
The survivor who reluctantly accepted to talk flatly refused his photo to be used in the paper.
I remained where I was and that was around 5:45am. The Parish Priest removed his cassock and hid at the altar while the gunmen continued in the shooting spree.
“When they had left, I helped in evacuating the wounded and casualties to the NAUTH, Nnewi,” he said.
Also later in the evening, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 9, Umuahia, Mr. Hassan Karma visited the victims at the NAUTH and said that the act was completely unacceptable before man and God. The AIG assured that the perpetrators must be fished out. He said that would not make anyone say there is no security in Anambra State.
Re: BIAFRA: The Legal, Political, Economic and Social Questions
The Customary Government of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, CG-IPOB is happy that Senator Ike Ekweremadu –the highest Political Officer from the former Eastern Nigeria has finally opened up on the best way to handle the Biafra question. We have always known that a day will come when all the stakeholders will visit the round table to allow reasoning take prominence. That day is at sight.
CG-IPOB wishes to remind our most respected Senator Ekweremadu that the Nigeria Political Class has failed the masses, hence the agitation for a better living conditions from almost all the regions in Nigeria including the Biafran region. CG-IPOB may not wish to join issues with our Brother in public but however, for record purpose, would wish to remind him that enough consultations have not been made at home front to resolve our internal issues.
CG-IPOB has always stood for peaceful resolution of Biafra issue and that was the reason behind the legal option adopted by the elders of CG-IPOB in suit no FHC/OW/CS/192/2013.It should also be noted that Nigeria Government has done everything possible to hide the genuine Biafran struggle for self determination by the rule of law from the eyes of the public.Most of the media houses including the one own by Senator Ekweremadu have wilfully kept the truth about Biafra struggle from the public while trying hard to give dog a bad name.CG-IPOB wants to put it on record that the elites might want a restructured Nigeria where equity ,fairness and justice are enthroned, but, the ordinary people want to be given the opportunity to determine their economic ,political and cultural destinies within or outside Nigeria .
In a letter with ref:IPOB/SCE/VOL.1/2016 forwarded to Nigeria Government circulated among the key political Leaders in Biafraland,CG-IPOB presented the best way to resolve the Biafra issue amicably but we are worried that Nigeria government is not interested in peace and have taken a firm decision to hold Biafrans in Nigeria against their wishes.The right for self determination is an inalienable rights for all the indigenous people across the globe and we are quite aware that the process to achieve an independent nation is quite rigorous .CG-IPOB prayers before the Honorable Court require simple answers to simple questions. The Elders of Biafra being led by Rtd Justice Eze Ozobu and Dr Dozie Ikedife are men of proven integrity and accomplishments that can never be ignored and these are men that authorized the court case against Nigeria Government to establish the legality of the call for self determination.
In conclusion, a call for self determination is never a call for war but a call for the establishment of indigenous peoples inalienable rights for self determination.We must have an open mind with ‘no go area’ directive to resolve the Biafra question amicably.The CG-IPOB Administrator can be contacted via 08035002394 for further consultation and possible resolution.
