50 YEARS AFTER BIAFRA: REFLECTIONS AND HOPES

May 27, 2017

Please below is the speech of the President of Ohanaze Ndigbo Chief Nnia Nwodo Jnr at the Yar Adua center on 50 years of Biafra. The Acting President Prof Yemi Osinbajo and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo were guests.

PROTOCOLS:

1. I am grateful to Shehu Musa Yar Adua Foundation, Ford Foundation and OSIWA – the co-sponsors of this event for your kind invitation. I commend your foresight in convening this conference, the first major conference discussing Biafra outside of Igboland. Nigeria. In hosting this conference the Yar’Adua Centre, which is best known for promoting national cohesion, honours the legacy of a great patriot: Shehu Musa Yar Adua. He died building bridges of understanding across our nation. I salute his family and associates for sustaining the legacy of Shehu through the works of this Foundation.

2. It is significant that you have chosen to harvest sober memories of Biafra. By so doing, you help us to wisely situate today’s talks of Biafra in the proper context: namely, as an opportunity for nation building; and not – as an invitation for invectives or recrimination.

3. 50 years ago, Nigeria faced disintegration by the declaration of the Republic of Biafra. Biafra was born out of the political crisis which engulfed Nigeria at that time. The crisis began with the struggle for leadership in the Western Region of Nigeria, the declaration of state of emergency in the West, the coup of January 1966, the counter coup of July 1966, the pogroms, the declaration of Biafra and the commencement of a police action that turned into a three years civil war.

4. I hope that our gathering today may contribute to the body of knowledge or body of lessons from the war. Lest we forget, there is wisdom in the words of George Santayana that: those who do not know their history are doomed to repeat it. That is why I thank you for the chance for us to collectively remember, reflect, hope and seek ways to build anew.

5. My most heartfelt reflection is that in the Nigeria-Biafra conflict, we can and should acknowledge the sacrifice – in blood, suffering and toil – by millions of citizens on both sides of that divide. They shared a common hope for their sacrifice: namely, that out of that war, we shall build a nation where no man is oppressed. The only difference was that for one side, Nigeria was that nation. For the other it was Biafra.

6. Let us spare a thought for every victim of that conflict and the crises before that: the leaders and the soldiers, ordinary men, women and children. Each one loved life; had hopes and dreamt dreams. They died prematurely and often, painfully.

7. For those of us that survived the war and others who came afterwards, we are both heirs to the sacrifices of fallen brethren. Let us commit ourselves today and always to their hopes for peace and justice. Anytime that we are violent, anytime that we are unjust in the exercise of our public trust, anytime we lower the ideals of this nation, we betray them; and we act as if they died in vain. As we honour their memory, today my worry is not only about the rising feeling of marginalization of Igbos or any other group but that our nation may emerge from this conflict a more united and prosperous country.

8. At the end of the war, in spite of a policy of no victor no vanquished by the Government of General Yakubu Gowon, an unconscionable policy of impoverishment of Biafrans was unleashed by the federal government. Every bank deposit of Biafrans that had encountered a transaction whether by deposit or withdrawal was reduced to £20. Massive savings were completely wiped out. Capacity for investment and recovery from the war was shattered. Whilst this poverty pervaded, the Indigenisation Decree was promulgated enabling other Nigerians, except Biafrans to acquire commanding heights in the indigenised companies which held at that time the critical and commanding heights of Nigeria’s private economy.

9. Nevertheless, on the issue of reconciliation, we must give due credit to the resilience of the people from the war affected areas and the generosity of millions of other Nigerians that opened their hearts and homes to their friends and neighbours that were victims of war. In many ways, it was by these incredible citizen to citizen relationships that Nigeria achieved one of the most remarkable post-conflict people to people reconciliation and reintegration in modern times.

10. Before the war national unity was the norm. A Biafran was a member of Northern Nigeria House of Chiefs. Biafrans lived freely and invested in all parts of Nigeria. In Lagos Dr Azikiwe was elected leader of Government Business. Mbonu Ojike was elected Deputy Speaker. In Enugu Alhaji Umoru Altine, a Fulani man was elected Mayor of Enugu. Mr Willougby a Yoruba man, was Accountant General.

11. On the economic front, the economy was buoyant. Import substitution industries grew rapidly and were more profitable. In the North, groundnut production and export fuelled economic growth. Textile industries flourished, agriculture boomed. Ahmadu Bello University thrived with outstanding international reputation.

12. In Lagos and the entire Western Region growth was phenomenal. Cocoa was a dependable foreign exchange earner. Cement, soft drinks, rubber, beer, soap and other import substitution industries grew phenomenally. Lagos, Ibadan and Ife housed universities of world standards. The first television station in black Africa was built. The first stadium in Nigeria was also built in the West.

13. In the Eastern Region palm produce grew the Eastern economy. Coal was mined and exported. Beer, cement, cashew nuts, tyres, aluminium, steel and soft drink factories grew rapidly. University of Nigeria was built and run by Americans.

14. Reflecting on 50 years after the Nigeria-Biafra conflict, it would seem to me that we have made very elaborate efforts: constitutional, political and administrative to ensure a united Nigeria. We must not shy away from giving our nation its due credit, after all, some other societies with challenges like ours did not fare as well as we did.

15. However, we should not rest on our oars. Unity is not an end in itself; and ultimately, the best way to sustain our unity is to apply it to achieve a higher objective; namely, nation building.

16. Our political system is jaundiced, unfair, exploitative and unsustainable. Since attainment of independence the civilians have not been able to agree on a political structure. Our present constitution and the previous 1979 constitution were impositions of the military – an unrepresentative and dictatorial corps whose decrees were seriously influenced by the lop-sidedness of their composition.

17. The economic and development data from Nigeria is unencouraging in many sectors. Our law and order system including the police, the court system and the penal system has been characterised by impunity, incompetence and indiscipline.

18. On the global Terrorism Index Nigeria ranks 3rd after Iraq and Afghanistan and ahead of Pakistan and Syria. The World Economic Forum ranks Nigeria 127 out of 138 on the Global Competitiveness Index. The UNESCO ranks Nigeria with Chad, Pakistan and Ethiopia as the worst educational system in the world. Nigeria, according to the report, has the highest number of children out of school and one of the world’s worst education systems due to a combination of corruption, conflict and lack of investment. In the Human Development Index of the United Nations Development Program, Nigeria ranks 152 out of 188 countries and is the lowest among OPEC countries. The data points to a bleak future as we march to post-oil world without a coherent plan to reduce conflict and build a new national consensus.

19. On the positive side, there is a global consensus that Nigeria is highly potentiated. With a population of about 182 million people, by current estimates; and with our vast mineral and material resources; a well-organized Nigeria should be a land of plenty that supports its people and a leader in the comity of nations. Sadly, this is not the case.

20. Almost every Nigerian is agreed that Nigeria is not working but there is no clear consensus on why; or on what to do about it. Some say that it is merely a problem of leadership and once that is fixed all other things will fall in place. Others say that it is a problem of corruption. Once you tackle that, everything will be fine. Others have said that our problem is one of law and order; some say it is more fundamental and has to do with control of resources, structure of the Federation and thus requires more equitable sharing of revenue and the devolution of powers. Others say it can be fixed with power rotation and a more level playing field. It has been said that it could be a bit of all of the above; and that Nigeria cannot be fixed without a fundamental change of values and attitudes. Whatever the case, it will not profit us to pretend that we do not face existential challenges

21. These challenges are worrisome; especially to our younger ones who must face the fact that the next 50 years could be even more challenging and there is a good chance that we could be left behind if we fail to take action today. For instance, it is estimated in some quarters, that by 2050 – that is in 33 years’ time – Nigeria could be the 4th most populous country in the world. That means that Nigeria, which is just twice the size of Texas; would be more populous than all the United States of America. Meanwhile, as of today, we have a GDP that is barely 2% of that of the United States.

22. At the same time, in the years ahead, we could face very severe ecological challenges that will impact negatively on our economy. The desert is encroaching southwards at a speed of up to 6 km per annum. Thus within 33 years we could lose about 200 km of land to the desert – across the north. This can only exacerbate competition for arable land in the north and elsewhere – with dire political consequences.

23. In the South East, we could expect more ecologically-induced dislocation. For instance, the government of Anambra State estimates that about 40% of the State is threatened by erosion. In the South-South, by 2050 we could be dealing with the reality of a post-oil economy and yet have massive environmental degradation that is yet unattended to. There is also the possibility that much of the mangrove ecosystem could be lost to deforestation. Lagos could have a population of up to 50 million people and face unbearable challenges of massive urbanization.

24. We must become more responsive to the world around us, or we and our children will be left behind. These are some of the fears and anxieties of our youths. We have for too long allowed the bitterness of the war and its lingering feelings to dictate our political relationships. The coalition that fought the war is still in control of Nigeria engaging in rhetoric that fuelled the war in managing renascent Nigeria. The young men and women who were not part of the war are frustrated by this impasse.

25. Those who are in the East fuel strong agitations for separation in the face of clear treatment as second class citizens. War is the primary instrument of military dictatorship while negotiation and agreement are the essential ingredients of civilian democracy and political diplomacy. Nations are not created and sustained by street warfare. The federal government of Nigeria must instruct its police and army to promulgate a ceasefire and disengage from further unproductive street warfare with IPOB and MASSOB. There are no problems which cannot be resolved by negotiation.

26. We do not want any more wars. We have shed enough blood without producing corresponding political results. 50 years after Biafra the time is now overripe for a fresh approach. We must immediately commence discussions and fruitful negotiations about our political future. In the era of assymetrical warfare, war is no more an easy option for states, therefore we must negotiate our way out of a sense of national despair to a new national consensus that unlocks our national possibilities.

27. Nigeria, blessed as the richest and the most popular nation in Africa has enormous potentials. Every part of Nigeria can survive as an independent country. The North with its mineral and agricultural potentials can build a strong nation. The West with its cocoa, oil, indomitable intellectual know how and commerce can build another Britain. The South South with its oil, notwithstanding its declining economic potency can transform its area before oil ceases to be a major foreign exchange earner. The East with industry, outstanding innovation and little oil may still emerge as the African wonder. But none of these little enclaves will rival the capacity of a united and reconciled Nigeria. We must all rise up and save this nation from a trajectory that will make a break up a more viable option.

28. The challenges ahead are beyond Biafra. Just like the challenge in North East Nigeria exploded in our face and has engaged our nation for almost 9 years; we could face challenges anywhere and anytime. In my view, if we fail to build a nation that caters fairly for all its citizens; and prepares us for the world of tomorrow – there will be new challenges in the future.

29. We must find creative ways to manage a complex multi-ethnic and multi-religious state. History teaches us that no society is static; the status quo cannot endure forever. We must find creative ways to promote political, economic and social justice within a nation and between the people that comprise it. If not, then we are invariably opening the doors to future threats of chaos, disorder and societal dislocation.

30. The final challenge of our generation is to show that we learnt the right lesson from that sad conflict of 50 years ago. We must bequeath our children with a nation that works for all and one that looks ahead. We want a Federal Republic of Nigeria which is collectively owned by all Nigerians as opposed to a Federal Republic that will be perceived as a the private property of one group or groups of ethnic groups depending on who is in office. The categorical destination is a Nigerian Nigeria under the collective hegemony of the people of Nigeria. In order to achieve this we must have a flexible federation; strong enough to guarantee our collective defence and protect individual rights, agile enough to react to emerging tensions and threats, yet expansive enough to allow each state room to develop at its own pace. We must create a national order whereby each state bears the primary responsibility for its development.

31. Today majority of Nigerians are yearning for a restructuring of the federation. The beneficiaries of our current system are resisting it. A famous British Prime Minister in the wake of nationalist struggles in colonial Africa said to the British ‘there is a wind of change blowing throughout Africa. Those who resist it do so at their own peril’.

32. Nigeria cannot prosper, as it should, unless we redress some aspects of our current condition. I believe we have enough men and women of vision and experience, in every part of the country, to help us plot a bright future. I commit Ohaneze Ndigbo to this path. It may be difficult but it is doable.

33. True leadership evolves in historical circumstances like this. Our country is at cross roads. You can feel the tension every day. It is palpable, it is potent, it is real. Let us wake up to the change imperative at this moment and claim a glorious judgment by History.

34. Thank You for your kind attention

JOHN NNIA NWODO

PRESIDENT GENERAL, OHANEZE NDIGBO

ABU

Biafra Day: IPOB extends sit-at-home order to 14 cities

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May 25, 2017

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has extended its sit-at-home order declared on May 30, 2017 to other parts of Nigeria where Biafrans and supporters reside.

The order was extended to states like Kano, Kaduna, Jos, Makurdi, Ibadan, Benin, Abuja, Lagos, Lokoja, Gigawa, Jalingo, Mubi, Yola, Lafia, among others.
Despite several warnings by security agencies against the order, IPOB insisted that the order must hold to honour Biafran fallen heroes who lost their lives during the civil war between 1967 and 1970.
A statement by IPOB’s Media and Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emma Powerful said its leader, Nnamdi Kanu had written to all governors, market, religious and community leaders in Biafraland to help ensure that May 30 would be memorable in the history of this country.
“This sit-at-home order/remembrance and honour of our fallen heroes slated to be observed on May 30, will be the best thing to happen to the people of Biafra since 50 years.
“It will be monitored by international observers, after which the struggle for Biafra freedom, will move to another level.
“Therefore, everybody, both old and young, man and woman must stay indoors, no protest, no human or vehicular movements in Biafraland from 6:00 am to 6:00pm on that day.
“Biafrans world over must honour and remember our fallen heroes and heroines who died for our freedom between 1967 and 1970, those who died during our peaceful rally and protest from August 30, 2015 till date.
“Biafrans and IPOB members worldwide living outside Biafraland should present a written letter containing the plights of our people to the authorities and governments of their respective countries.
“The people of Biafra will not fail to honour and remember those who contributed immensely to fight and save the lives of our children, some of whom were starved to death by the policy of the then government.
“We will celebrate and honour Mr. Mathew Tawo Mbu from Ogoja, he was the Biafran foreign minister from the beginning to the end of the war, Captain Willy Murray Bruce, this man was second in command of the Biafran Air force, this Ijaw man fought to the last to defend his country Biafra, Ambassador Ignatius Kogbara, this man from Ogoni was a Biafran envoy to London, he was the very last man to surrender during the war of genocide against our people.

“Again, we will not forget to remember the efforts of Col. Willy Achibong (one of the bravest officers in Biafra Army), Col. Nsudo, Col. Etuk, Bob Egbiko and the efforts of few Yoruba men who fought on the side of Biafra will never be in vain like Adeleke, Fola Oyewole, Major Wale Ademoyega and many others.
“We must remember them in two minutes prayer immediately it is 12 noon on that day. We must remember them in prayer, both the dead and those still alive today,” Powerful said.

It’s to honour Ojukwu –MASSOB
Movement for the Actualisation of a Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), has described the sit-at-home as an honour to the late Biafra leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu- Ojukwu.
In a statement issued by MASSOB Director of Information, Edeson Samuel called on all Igbo to observe the sit-at-home as a mark of honour to the late Ikemba of Nnewi and all the Biafra soldiers who died during the Nigeria Civil war of 1967- 1970.
The statement urged all pro-Biafra agitators to support the sit-at-home, describing it as part of civil disobedience which is necessary in the struggle for self rule.
“The sit-at-home is not for the interest of any particular group but for the interest of Biafrans. MASSOB and IPOB are urging all schools, markets, transporters and companies in Biafra land to support.

“Also, all biafrans in diaspora should observe the sit- at -home. It is important for us to make it clear that Nigerian security agents have planned to shoot at sight anybody they see that day, to be on the safe side, it’s better we stay at home to avoid this blood suckers.
In a related development, the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra (CG-IPOB) has announced a three-day golden jubilee celebration as a mark of respect and honour to gallant Biafra soldiers and civilians who sacrificed their precious lives while fighting for freedom.

In a statement signed by Ndubuisi Anaenugwu, Director of Information, CG-IPOB said May 28, 2017 has been declared a day of prayer for the souls of all those that died.
He said Biafrans are directed to book masses in their various churches with praying for the repose of the souls of all those who sacrificed their lives fighting for the freedom of the indigenous people of Biafra that their sacrifices will not be in vain.

Mustapha blowing whistle on Abdusalam…NA Waoh!!

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May 25, 2017

FORMER CSO OF LATE GEN. SANI ABACHA
Major Al-Mustapha (rtd) EXPOSES ex-Head of State, Lt-Gen. Abdulsalami (rtd) on “CORRUPTION” charges.

Call it, “Masu Gudu, Su Gudu !!”
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THIS ABOUT THE PEACE COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN, GEN ABDUSALAMI ABUBAKAR….Let’s see how corrupt he is:..PLEASE READ AND SHARE
“When General Abdulsalami came to power, he exhibited an accumulated and accentuated thirst for money. I stumbled on some documents and video cassettes even while in retirement.
“There was the case of $40 million contributed by multinationals for General Sani Abacha’s transmutation to civilian president. I gave the cassette of his disclosure to help him clean the system not knowing that he would use it to clean me out of the system because three days later I was arrested. I urge the commission to investigate this money contributed by multinational towards Abacha’s self-succession.
“There was also the case of Engineer Buba Galadima, Director of NMA whom General Abdulsalami Abubakar directed to release N5 billion from the NMA to the minister through Chief Hope Ozodinma. But Galadima refused saying it was beyond his power to do so. That same afternoon, a lorry load of soldiers invaded his house managed him and took him to an unknown destination. He was ordered to put in his letter of resignation so as to look as if he resigned voluntarily but he refused and asked General Abubakar to fire him. He was fired and he was given two hours to vacate his official quarters.
“The N5 billion was to be shared like this: “1.35 to be given to the minister, Chief Hope would be given N265 million and $18 million would be given to General Abubakar. I have documents to prove this (He than tendered the documents).
“There is the issue of the printing of new naira denominations, of 100, 200 and 500. I shared Mustapha’s opinions on this which he explained in his testimony that it was a booby trap for President Olusegun Obasanjo to fail. I have 13 documents to prove this which I shall tender, before this commission.
“When General Abacha was alive the idea of the printing of new naira denominations was mooted. Three companies bided for the contract – J.B. of Munich; Thomas & Co. Of London, and Bodous of Germany. They all submitted their quotations. They all agreed on $30 per one thousand pieces but General Abacha said it was too much. The agreement was not sealed before his death. When General Abdulsalami came on board, he said it should be printed at $45 per thousand. G & D was given the contract of printing and here was the company reputed for tax evasion. The company has offices in Germany, Greece, Spain, Belgium, Argentina and other places, but only has a liaison office in Nigeria. The company evaded tax to the tune of 2 million Dutch marks in Germany. This is the same company given the job to print the money I commenced investigations into the activities of this company but General Abubakar ordered me to stop it. All these were known to him.
“The NTA in its news at 7 and 9 p.m. on January 11, 2001 reported that a container load of fake naira notes was discovered in Jos and Maiduguri. This is what I am talking about.
“During Abdulsalami’s time, our soldiers in ECOMOG were not treated well at all. General Victor Malu then ECOMOG Commander once had cause to complain of adulterated fuel sent to them. When the contract for the supply of food to our soldiers was changed, it was given to one lady, I will mention her name later.
When General Abacha was alive 45 dollars was approved a day for each of our soldiers but when Gen. Abubakar came to power he increased it. But instead of giving them the money, they were given the old rate, where is the balance?
“There is the issue of parting gift to each PRC member. N1 million was agreed as parting gift for each PRC member or 500,000 dollars. I inquired from two PRC members later differently. I asked them jokingly that I learnt you were all given ½ a million dollars as parting gift. Where is my own share now? But they told me it was only 50,000 dollars. So what happened to the remaining 450,000 dollars per each PRC member times the total PRC members?
Before General Abacha died, he left a foreign reserve of 9.7 billion dollars. There are papers to show this. But Abubakar claimed that only 7.17 billion dollars was left in the reserve what happened to the balance? This reserve that Abacha accumulated in five years, Abdulsalami depleted if in nine months.
“Eagle Square here in Abuja was being renovated yearly when General Oseni was FCT Minister. Consultants were appointed for the renovation at N230 million. But General Abdulsalami rejected this and opted for upward review of N2.3 billion as against N230m.
“Also through 59 million dollars he siphoned from government coffers he bought a house in London at 5 million pounds renovated it at 1 million pounds.
“Before General Abacha died he approved 66 million Dutch marks for the maintenance of Alpha jets and other aircraft. When Abubakar took over he wrote another memo for the sum of 44,275,000 dollars for the same maintenance. I would have wished he was here to cross check if this signature on these documents were his.
“There was also another memo from the CGS dated March 17 1999 at the injury time of the administration. There was request for the purchase of boats at 45 million dollars, purchase of amphibious plane at 21,747,660 dollars; and 5,000 rain coats jacket to cost 14,500,00 dollars. The normal cost of one rain coat to pocket were from rain is 45 dollar per piece and the total cost for the 5,000 rain coats should be 2,9000 dollars. It was signed by General Abdulsalami Abubakar to be purchased on ECOMOG issue, apart from the naval personnel that used to transport the food items, it was later given to merchant ships.
“There is the issue of Engineer Ibrahim Ali, MD of NPA. General Abubakar called him one day and told him since General Abacha did not give you free hand to do your duties, bring your quotation and I will give you the wherewithal to execute it. He brought it to Abdulsalami. He met Alhaji Gidado Idris, former Secretary to the Federation there. Abdulsalami approved it for execution but when Ali left Abdulsalami ordered Gidado Idris to fire Ali when Gidado wanted to refuse, he told him that if he didn’t do it somebody else would do it and that was how he was fired.
Yet, when AbdusSalam Abubakar handed over power to President Obasanjo on 29 May 1999, only the of $ 200 m. was left as Nigeria’s foreign reserve. Let President Obasanjo speak in the name of GOD ALMIGHTY and for the sake of poor Nigerians and posterity.

Why Biafrans must celebrate May 30

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May 25, 2017

In what looked like a dress rehearsal for the golden jubilee anniversary of the declaration of the Republic, which comes up this Tuesday, May 30, the Biafra Independence Movement (BIM) marched through the streets of major cities in the South East and South South on Monday, May 22, in processions that were remarkably peaceful despite a few skirmishes with and arrests by, security agents.

The processions were ordered by the Ralph Uwazuruike-led BIM in commemoration of the 17th anniversary of the founding of Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) by Uwazuruike on may 22, 2000.
Indigenous People of Biafra and MASSOB now led by Comrade UchennaMadu, did not participate in the marches, reserving their own anniversary celebrations for Tuesday, May 30 proper.

But, the peaceful nature of the marches has been seen in many quarters as sign of possible overallpeaceful, violence-free 50th anniversary celebrations of theBiafra proclamation.
“Security agents should see from what happened on Monday that a peaceful protest by people pushing for self-determination does not exactly amount to dismembering the country,” said one police officer who would not be named, in a chat with The Oracle Today in Onitsha.

The one-week celebration will end on May 30, the day marking the 50th anniversary of the declaration of the Republic of Biafra by then Col. Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the late Biafran leader and IkemebNnewi on May 30, 1967.
In Onitsha, Anambra State, Enugu, Nsukka, Abakaliki, Asaba, Calabar, among others, the processions, which commenced on Monday, May 22, were largely peaceful.

In Onitsha, scores of police officers and soldiers were deployed to strategic places within the metropolis to maintain peace and order but they did not molest the marchers, an indication of a new attempt by security agents to handle protests in public space in more civilised manners.

However arrests were made in Enugu, Asaba, Abakaliki,Calabar and a few other places, where police dispersed the BIM rallies and arrested some members of the pro-Biafra group.
But, observers who spoke with The Oracle Todayin Onitsha during the week, expressed fears that the seeming lack of unanimity of purpose among the pro-Biafra groups, evident in the BIM processions to which IPOB and MASSOB did not subscribe, might spell doom for the self-actualisation efforts of Biafrans.
According to Mr. John Ezeliaku (Nwaojukwu), “what I read some BIM voice out made me fear for the entire pro-Biafra Movement.”

“As far as some or most of Uwazuruike’s boys are concerned, this thing is no longer about Biafra but about the supremacy of their leader over other leaders. Some of them said they were happy at the huge turnout of people mainly because it had shut up those opposed to Uwazuruike. Whatever the outcome of the different celebrations would be in the end, the truth is that the movement will no longer move in one well-defined direction,”Ezeliaku stressed.

While the Uchenna Madu-led MASSOB has dissociated itself from processions, IPOB had from the beginning opted for sit-at-home protest to mark the 50th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra by the late Ojukwu.
Even as the BIM marches were going on, The Oracle Today correspondents in Nsukka, Umuahia and other places reported that sizeable numbers of IPOB members were also on the streets mobilizing people to sit at home on May 30th to mark the day.
Agonized Ezeliaku: “BIM’s Uwazuruike wants Biafrans to march in protest on May 30, IPOB’s NnamdiKanu wants them to stay at home.

Whichever way it goes, one or the other’s ego would have been hurt and the fight will continue to the detriment of the self-actualisation project embarked upon by the entire people of Biafra.”
He wants the elders of the overall pro-Biafra Movement, therefore, to intervene to put the project back on track for the overall good of all Biafrans.

“I appeal to Justice Eze Ozobu, Dozie Ikedife, Col. Joe Achizia and all other elders of the Pro-Biafra Movement to intervene and get leaders of the various organisations to work together to achieve a common goal,” Ezeliaku suggested.
The 50th anniversary of the declaration of Biafra and the 30-month civil war that followed is coming against the backdrop of ethnic tensions, religious intolerance leading sectarian violence and mayhem, acts of corruption and outright incompetence in the management of public affairs that have continued to gnaw at the very foundation of Nigeria’s existence.

These, political observers told The Oracle Today, are the exact same factors that precipitated the Biafran separatist agitation and, eventually, the Nigerian Civil War.
“Nothing has changed; they still treat us as a conquered people,” lamented Chief NniaNwodo, President_General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo. “If you drive through the South East, there is a military checkpoint in every major town you go into. If they screen you for arms and ammunition, I will understand that it is a national security imperative. But, they collect money from you; we are forced to pay.”

In his own reaction, the Deputy Publicity Secretary of Eastern Consultative Assembly (ECA), DedeUzor A. Uzor said: “The effect of what led to the civil war remains unresolved till date. Going by the position of the present administration of General Muhammadu Buhari’s appointments of Nigerian citizens into various strategic positions, Ndigbo remain grossly marginalized and disappointed.

“For instance, no Igboman is in top four echelon in the strategic security apparatus of the nation, ranging from Chief Of Army Staff, COAS, Chief Of Defence Staff, CDS, Insoector-General of Police, IGP, Director-General of State Security Services, D-G SSS, Specurity Adviser, SSA, Chief of Air Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Immigration Service, Prisons Service, NAFDAC, NIMASA, Aviation, Federal Road Safety Commission, FRSC, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, among others.”

He queried: “Does it mean that no Igboman is qualified or educationally sound to hold such a strategic positions? These are the issues behind the continued agitation of ndigbo for restoration or actualization of Biafra.

“Since these fundamental issues are yet to be addressed, we in the ECA would want to align ourselves with some prominent Igbo personalities like Dr. Alex Ekwueme, Second Republic Vice President who are in support of NnamdiKanu’s continuation with his clamour for the restoration of Biafra”.

But, while the federal government has blamed for not doing much to mitigate the factors that led to Biafra, many others have blamed Biafrans, especially Ndigbo, for not doing enough on their own to help themselves.
Declared Rommy Ezeonwuka, the Ogirisi Igboland: “If you call yourself an Igboman or a Biafran, you must have heard that only 20 pounds was released to every Igbo man shortly after the civil war, and their properties were forcefully taken away from them in some parts of the country in the name of abandoned properties, yet they managed to survive.

“However, it is quite unfortunate that the same Ndigbo who suffered these deprivations have not learnt our lessons from it, to the extent that after surviving the post-civil war trauma, they still went ahead to invest all their monies outside Igbo land where their monies and properties could be abandoned for the second time in the event of another outbreak of war or possible break-up of the country”.

“I presume that Ndigbo cannot be identified as fools with their first mistakes but with these second mistakes of continuing to invest massively in other parts of the country, as they are doing now in their numbers, they can be identified as proper fools and as such, the step could be likened to an Igbo adage which states that first fool is not fool but second fool is proper foolishness,” he agonized.

“To me, Biafran Republic has already been declared by Ojukwu in 1967 and there will be no need for declaration of Biafra for the second time. Ojukwu declared it, fought for it and died for it. There will be no need for a second declaration. All we need to do is to do remembrance anniversaries and befitting burials for those who died during the struggle.”
On General Alani Akinrinade’s open confession that he would not have fought against Biafra if he knew that things would turn out this way in the country, Ezeonwuka stated that such a confessional statement amounted to “medicine after death or better still, crying over spilt milk.”

Source: Oracle news

50 years ago …Doctors Without Borders was conceived in Biafra (1)

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May 25, 2017

— 24th May 2017

“There were hundreds of women, children and men brought to the hospital that day, so many that we had to lay them out on the street and even operate on some of them there. The gutters around the hospital ran red with blood. The woman had not just been attacked with a machete, but her entire body rationally and systematically mutilated. Her ears had been cut off. And her face had been so carefully disfigured that a pattern was obvious in the slashes. She was one among many — living an inhuman and simply indescribable suffering. We could do little more for her at the moment than stop the bleeding with a few necessary sutures. We were completely overwhelmed, and she knew that there were so many others. She said to me in the clearest voice I have ever heard, ‘Allez, allez…ummera, ummerasha’ — ‘Go, go…my friend, find and let live your courage.”

James Orbinski, Former President, Doctors Without Borders. 1999 Nobel Peace Prize

On June 5, 1969, a Swedish Red Cross DC-7 registered SE-ERP left Fernando Po in Equatorial Guinea, was heading to Uli-Ihiala. It was overhead at exactly 5:45 p.m. Meanwhile Captain Gbadamosi King left Port Harcourt airport dead on time at 5:40 p.m.; and right above our heads in the sky, at Ibono, the two flights met. Captain Gbadamosi signaled the cargo flight to land at Port Harcourt which the Pilot refused, so after five minutes, the plane was shot down. The crew was instantly killed. According to Brigadier Godwin Alabi Isama, in his book, The Tragedy of Victory, the cargo flight had food items, weapons and ammunition in it.

We have since learnt that the Swedish Red Cross plane apart from the crew was transporting Doctors, Nurses who were rushing in aids, delivering medical equipment and all sorts of aid for the starving Biafra children. The plane was clearly marked in Red Cross colors and until the last response the Pilot was vehement. Every Red Cross plane is sacrosanct and by international conventions is never attacked whether on the ground, sea or air!

The Pilot will not detour from his flight destination and in fact was horrified to encounter a Russian MIG Jet fighter flown by a trained Nigerian Pilot ordering the Red Cross plane to change its course. That was the first time in modern warfare a clearly marked Red Cross plane carrying relief, boarding courageous humanitarian Doctors was viciously extinguished in the air, falling in horrendous pieces down to the ground.

While the devilish Pilot Gbadamosi and his fellow conspirators might have been beating their chests for this wanton ‘kill’ we return to page 27 where the heroine of the book, Alhaja Muniratu Alabi Isama had admonished her son, to do all in his power to protect his Ukwuani people who were many in Northern Nigeria …. She told her son that while she was in a public transport sitting with an Ukwuani couple and conversing fluently with them in Ukwuani with them, the bus was suddenly stopped by a military road block. Between Zaria and Kaduna during the pogrom of 1966, right there in front of the Alhaja the Ukwuani couple was dragged aside and shot dead. Alhaja broke down and cried uncontrollably until she got to her son in Kaduna. On seeing her son, she admonished him to stay in the Army and do everything possible within his power to protect his people. She advised her son to leave Kaduna and return to his people and protect Ukwuani people.

Three weeks ago, Brigadier Isama’s best friend in the Army launched his book in Lagos. Full of regrets General Akinrinade lamented his participation in the war and wondered why the Biafrans were not allowed their own State. Isama’s book located another butcher Captain Dickson, who was the Commander at the Ikeja airport during the bloody massacres of July 28th 1966 night and 29th, and after. He was still the Commander of operations when Gbadamosi for the records shot down a Swedish Red Cross plane bringing relief to the starving children of Biafra.

Elsewhere in Ndi Oshimili, the home province of Brigadier Alabi Isama, there have been simmering issues between the Western Ibos of this area and their phalangist neighboring nations of Urhobos and Isokos. The 1967 ill-fated Biafran incursion into the Midwest and the consequences fifty years ago, forcefully reconstructed the boundary lines. A lot of unreported massacres of Ndi Oshimili akin to what happened at Asaba, Ogwashi-Ukwu, Isheagu, put these Western Ibos on the defensive.

In 1949, according to B.O.N. Eluwa, Ado-Na-Idu, History of Igbo Origin, “Igbuku, having been enrolled in Ibo State Union in 1948 by the Okpara-Uku and his traditional cabinet had its tribal affinity made a subject of public controversy. Feelings on the subject were intensified by the visit to the town by the Secretary of the Ibo State Union. At that time, the town had a Local Council recognized by the Western Nigeria Regional Administration. Igbuku (Igbo-Uku) which was in Ukwuani District of Aboh Division had a traditional ruler known as Okpara-Uku put together with his traditional council of elders (Ndichie), enrolled the town as a member of the Ibo State Union. The Okpara-Uku and his elders were however ruling a town which had a large Isoko population. The position had resulted from the fact that the Isoko people, who were originally tenant farmers, had settled in the town in large numbers and had in course of time out-numbered their hosts with whom they had greatly intermarried. The result of these inter-marriages was that, as children normally tend to speak the language of their mothers, more and more of the population were Isoko speaking. Eventually those who spoke Isoko, even though many were bilingual in Isoko and Ibo, far outnumbered those who were merely Ibo speaking. So, in course of time, the inhabitants began to consider themselves Isoko rather than Ibo. In fact, it was said that at that time in 1949, there was hardly any inhabitant of Igbuku who was not Isoko speaking, unless he was a stranger. Also in the families of the Ibo men who were bi-lingual in Isoko and Ibo and who were married to Isoko women, it was said that Isoko was more the family language than Ibo. Thus it was clear that the next generation of such a family would be completely Isoko speaking and would identify itself with Isoko cause.” That next generation did not wait for long. In 1967, Igbuku or Igbo-uku totally became Isokonized.

From Emma Okocha

Daily Sun

WHY WE MUST SET UP CUSTOMARY GOVERNMENT IN OUR COMMUNITIES

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May 24, 2017

To avoid having confusion, contention and trouble when God gives us

Our own Nation-Biafra.

To show Nigeria and the world that we are prepared and ready for

independence.

To educate and prepare the minds of our people towards the actualization of

Biafra independence.

To harmonize all pro Biafra groups and bring them under an organised platform recognised by Nigeria legal system in order to speak with one resounding voice.

This directive is necessary, compulsory and mandatory, for the most high, the sovereign Lord of the universe, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Gad and Eri, even the God of our ancestors have taken over the battle.

The Lord has said that the battle for the emergence of Biafra as a nation is not by power, nor by might, but by his spirit.

The independence of Biafra will come with mighty signs and wonders. I ,therefore use this opportunity to appeal to the Nigerian government to stop harassing, ,intimidating and killing of Biafrans who are agitating for their inalienable rights for self determination.

I also appeal to the Nigerian Government to release all Biafrans in Nigerian Prisons, who are being incarcerated as a result of their involvement in the Biafra struggle.

I expect the Nigerian authorities to honour this appeal and release our people in their prisons and police stations within seven day of this publication or get ready for the wrath of God, for no one can battle with the Lord.

Furthermore, I appeal to all Biafrans both in Nigeria and abroad to use the May 30^th Biafra remembrance day and seek the face of God, and cry unto Him to be merciful unto us, forgive, wash and cleanse us of our sins .

Let us use that day as a national prayer day. May the mercies of our eternal father envelope all Biafrans as we prepare ourselves for the declaration of Biafra independence sooner than we expect.Amen.

Apostle Nduchem Mbazurike

Ag Deputy Director,Religious Affairs,CG-IPOB.

OFFICIAL APPOINTMENT -23/05/2017

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May 23, 2017

The Administrator of the Customary Government of Indigenous People of Biafra has approved the appointment of Zulu Ofoelue as the Director for Environment and Ecology Development.

This appointment is for a probationary period of 6 months subject to further confirmation by the Supreme Council of Elders. Mr Zulu is expected to apply his wealth of experience in research and applied sciences to work for Biafrans under the Customary Government of IPOB.

On behalf of the Customary Govt of IPOB, we congratulate Zulu Ofoelue on his new appointment.

Ndubuisi Anaenugwu

Director – Directorate of Information,CG-IPOB

30th May Remembrance Day:CG-IPOB Releases Timetable of Events

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May 23, 2017

The Customary Govt of IPOB (CG-IPOB) has announced a 3-day golden Jubilee celebration as a mark of respect and honour to our gallant Biafra Soldiers and civilians who sacrificed their precious lives while fighting for freedom.

The event will commence as stated below:

Sunday,28th May ,2017:

Prayer for the souls of all those that died while fighting for the freedom of the Biafran people.Biafrans are directed to book masses in their various churches with the message:Customary Govt of IPOB(CG-IPOB) prays for the repose of the souls of all those who sacrificed their lives fighting for the freedom of the indigenous people of Biafra(IPOB) while praying that their sacrifices will not go in vain.Amen .Our traditionalist(s) are advised to make sacrifices for the souls of the departed.Provincial Administrators to ensure strict compliance throughout Biafraland.

Tuesday,30th May,2017:

All Biafrans are directed to hoist Biafran flags in their balcony /window within their private homes. While observing the sit at home to mourn for the innocent souls of millions that died while fighting for our freedom. Shutting down all the markets and private Business centers for one day is a great way to honor our heroes and heroines. Community Leaders of the CG-IPOB have been directed to hold colloquium, from 4pm to review the journey so far , within their various communities.County Administrators to ensure strict compliance.

Wednesday,31st May,2017:

SEMINAR ON THE JOURNEY SO FAR: HOW DO WE MOVE FORWARD at Barnhill Hotel ,Agu Awka,Anambra State.Time is 3pm.All the Officers of the CG-IPOB across Biafraland are mandated to attend the Seminar .

Signed

Directorate of Information,CG-IPOB

WHY I PREFER RESTRUCTURING NIGERIA TO BIAFRA – EZEIFE, former anambra state gov

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May 21, 2017

Former Anambra state governor, Dr Chukwuemeka Ezeife has accused ailing Nigeria’s president Muhammadu Buhari of coming into office with the mission of “pushing the Igbo ethnic group “out of Nigeria insisting that if the onslaughts continue “Igbo must go”. He speaks on the basis for one Nigeria, which he says must be based on a framework of restructuring. The former federal permanent secretary reviews the 2015 presidential elections saying that ex- president Goodluck Jonathan, knew about the plot to rig him out months before the election, but that he would have returned as president if he wanted. He speaks on his ordeal in the hands of Buhari, alleging that a grand plot to frame him up and silence him was at the last minute stopped by the president. He speaks more on other national issues in this interview with Sunday Sun at his Abuja home.

You just released a small pamphlet entitled ‘Nigeria: The basis of Unity’, do you specifically see any basis for one Nigeria?
There is a basis for one Nigeria, if Nigeria is restructured and justice is made to prevail, no group in Nigeria can under any circumstances consider moving out of Nigeria. There are many reasons for that, but the basic reason is economic, something we call economics of scale. And what does that mean? With larger output you may be getting lower prices up to a point. And then, you have one market. You produce in Sokoto and sell in Calabar, Kano, Lagos. So I started by defining that the welfare of the people is the decision criterion. The welfare of the people should be the guiding principle for what is good and what is important for the country. So, the production of goods and services are basic for the welfare of the people. And this is cheaper in the larger geographical area than in a smaller one. Either Nigeria is properly structured for the people to take care of their affairs including their internal security on a smaller scale of production or there will be ill will.

In other words, the agitations and secession threats by IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) is misplaced?
No. Ok , let me go to the beginning. IPOB is Igbo. MASSOB (Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra) is Igbo. Igbo captives committed most suicides during the slave trade. Why? because we say Eji ndu eme gini? (Life without honour is not worth living). The way we are in Nigeria today, especially under Buhari is useless. At the start of his government, he employed more than 40 people without a single South easterner. He denied South-east of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the lowest of the six positions that are critically important. He sacked Igbo people and other southerners from the military, Customs. He killed our people for no just cause in Aba, Onitsha, Port Harcourt, Asaba. The Port Harcourt bloodletting is the one that drives me crazy. I don’t know what to make of that one. Because some boys were rejoicing that Trump won in America you massacred them. How does it concern Nigeria’s security and they came and slaughtered them in their numbers. What that says is that our position in Nigeria is reaching the point of eji ndu eme gini? therefore we may consider quitting. My own submission is that Biafra becomes inevitable if this injustices- marginalization, inequity, all forms of bad things being done to the South- east, if they continue beyond Buhari, then we must not keep hanging in for any reason. Remember IPOB was not there during Obasanjo’s regime, it was not there during Yar’Adua’s time, it was not there during Jonathan’s tenure as president. But because Buhari came with his Islamization agenda and a decision to push the South-east out of Nigeria if we react, our reaction is where we are going, and we must go if things continue the way they are. But not all of us believe that things will continue like this. Why do we believe that things must change when every day we are confronted with more reasons why our stay here is injurious? Even people who never thought about us are now getting conscious of the inhumanity of our continued stay and are changing their opinions. They are now talking about giving the Igbo the presidency. Today, Igbo are a great majority in Nigeria. We are pushing for restructuring, so are the Yoruba, South-south, middle belt. So, four zones are talking about restructuring. Even among people of the North-east, many are asking for restructuring. Some in the North-west are also asking for restructuring. So, it is a matter of understanding where you are going. Those who say Biafra outright is better than restructuring, I doubt they are right. If you are waiting for something and you don’t get it, Biafra becomes an option.

What would you think is responsible for the reluctance of some segments of the society that are opposed to restructuring?
What is restructuring? Ultimately, restructuring is going back to what we know; what was agreed- a federal system of government with regions. And what has happened? We had four regions – the North, the East, the West and the Midwest. Three regions in the South, one in the North. As we started the civil war, the military worked out a strategy for winning the war and created as a result 12 states. The northern military leaders also created even more states. Now, we have 36 states. And how did they create them? Today, we have 19 states in the north, 17 in the south. And sometimes Abuja is treated as if it were a state making it 20 states in the north. Even the number of states, is also important. South-east has five states, North-west has seven. Then, you come down to the number of local governments. Where are the 774 local governments? They are mostly in the North. Look at Lagos State with a very massive population with only 20 local governments while Kano has 64 local governments. That is the issue. Bayelsa has only eight local government states and that is where oil is. Funding is from the center go to the local governments. Since they have dominance of states, dominance of local governments and if they agree to restructuring and say Ndigbo stay in your place, Yoruba stay in your place and we adopt fiscal federalism they think they will lose. Income, revenue that is the myopic reason some of the northern people are talking against restructuring. It is known to most people including Sanusi the Emir of Kano that the North loses most with the breakup of Nigeria. What is the literacy level in the North? And when did education become second to anything in development? So, even right now, what can they boast of? Tomato is alright. Yes. We are not seeing the groundnut pyramids again. But it is not what they are using to build the North.

So they are not contributing anything to the national pool?
There is nothing they are contributing to the national revenue today. But they are taking more than those who are contributing. They have nothing. But they are not contributing to Nigeria because food is not enough. That is why I am a Nigerian because I can see the potentials of things being much better with better organization, better structuring, and justice being allowed to prevail. Those who want Biafra now, now are right. But the best thing that has happened is IPOB and the way it is going about Biafra. IPOB mission involves referendum. We will just vote like the people in Canada, Yugoslavia, Britain, and Scottish even northern Cameroun. Even southern Cameroun people are now saying they are Biafra now. So for me, I do not quarrel with anybody who is saying Biafra now, now, now. After delaying we will still get it. But I know that if we get restructuring it will be superior to Biafra, now, now. I am not complaining because of the war experience. During the Biafra- Nigeria war we committed all kinds of ‘Ibenne’ abuse but at the end of the war people just picked up their briefcases and walked away and would not come back unless if they make enough money to come and bamboozle the people at home to show them that they have arrived with money. With IPOB, there is no need for cleavages, no need for divisions. Since there will be an opportunity of saying your own views. But people must remember that some of us have roots outside. I don’t have any. This is my compound. Finished.

You like the vision of IPOB. What about the leadership as represented by Nnamdi Kanu?
That is the effective leadership they have. I don’t know Nnamdi Kanu very well. But if a person can say my life means nothing to me and he puts everything into whatever thing he is championing, that person should be respected and honoured. I would like them to take cognizance of other views. A person saying no structuring does not seem to have full understanding of history or the society of Nigeria.

And what is that understanding of the society of Nigeria?
The history behind it. We were once alone in Biafra. We committed all manner of ‘Ibenne’ atrocities.

What is the recurring ‘Ibenne’ taboo?
Yeah! Our culture does not allow us not to give a sleeping ground to a relation. What happened at the outbreak of the war? Our people will come back and be welcomed home happily by relations. In just two weeks disharmony will set in. That is why we have today, excessive individualism. We used to be individualistic. That is our system. But after the war we became excessively individualistic because some people went out in anger because of what their brothers did to them. No land is given to you to cultivate cassava and they will ask you where you have been all this while. You dare not inquire into certain family assets but when you came back you were celebrated. That will not happen again. We are better with restructuring. With restructuring we control our affairs. We are able to generate power for ourselves; we are deep with ecological problems. We need to take advantage of the land mass of Nigeria and the advantage of being in one space which is the largest concentration of population in Africa. I am emphasizing the economic aspect because that is where the action is. And then the psychic satisfaction of being in one Nigeria. I believe it is not the British imperialism that created Nigeria. I believe that God used the intervention of Britain to create a country which should become big brother and oil point for all blacks on earth. A country which will eventually develop into a super power and raise the dignity and respect of blacks and the African people and ultimately wipe away the shame of slavery from the faces of all blacks. That is Nigeria’s manifest destiny or God’s purpose in creating Nigeria. And we cannot achieve it without being big. Look at Sweden, Norway and all those small countries where the income per head is very big but they are not proper. With Nigeria, because of our population we become a super power easily.

You earlier accused Buhari of accentuating anti Igbo policies. What is in the Igbo person that is reprehensible and provocative?
Go and read Buhari ‘s speeches years ago. About 15 of them are talking about Islamization of Nigeria. He may not even hate the Igbo. I was in his compound. I sat in his parlour and he gave me food. That was about 16 years ago or more when we were trying to make friends politically. Today, Nigeria’s Security Council will meet and no South-easterner is there. There are so many actions of Buhari that are irritating and provocative. Right now, they are sending herdsmen to the East to cause commotion and fight on Islamic front. If you think they are planning Islamization you are a very dull person. They are making great progress with Islamization. Benue State governor said that 12 local governments of theirs have been taken. And the strategy is that they talk to a farmer and ask him to change to Islam. If the person agrees, no problem. If the person doesn’t agree, after some time they will bring cattle to the farm and then gradually they will take over the farm. They will fight you, kill you and what house is left they will move in and build more. Incremental Islamization is already on in Nigeria. Anybody who does not understand it is not thinking fast.

Why blame Buhari? Why not ex president Goodluck Jonathan who had a rare opportunity to change the situation with the 2014 National Conference report but failed to implement it until he was removed?
He had no time within which to implement it. But he did everything including adopting it and taking it to the National Assembly for legislative action. Where you can blame him is that he did not see early enough the need for national confab. And some of us who kept telling him to do it were disappointed that he did not do it early enough. However, a man is not perfect in every direction. Jonathan did a good job. When he came for a meeting in Enugu, I told him that his ministers were sabotaging him on Eastern roads. Enugu to Port Harcourt, Enugu to Onitsha, the two big eastern roads nothing was done on them. I don’t know whether we have right to blame Jonathan for that. In terms of personnel Jonathan brought our people into government and gave them reasonable positions. Why didn’t they use those positions to improve on the lot of the zone?

He also dispensed with them conveniently, people like Stella Oduah, Barth Nnaji
I don’t fully understand that one and I don’t believe it either. What I know is that in terms of personnel, he gave us positions we never had before. He gave us nine positions which we should have used to help our own people. We did not and turned round to blame him. Let me tell you, we had a meeting of South-south, South-east, initially it was South-east, South-south and South-west. When it was purely South-south and South-east, we had to go to Jonathan. I was the spokesman and you know I say things as I see them. We were not very happy with the appeasement strategy, which Jonathan adopted towards the North. He was trying to appease people he cannot appease. The northern people cannot be appeased. You give them one, they want two, you give two they want 10. That is in the nature of man. If you are bringing they will be demanding.

That was one of his undoing? That was why he lost easily?
No. Jonathan is a very good man naturally, an easy going Christian from all indications. He said it with his mouth that his political interest was not worth a drop of anybody’s blood. He knew there were problems but he felt that stopping the problems may create more problems. If he had insisted on winning he would have won. There was no way he didn’t know what was going on. We got the minutes of Northern leaders on how they planned to rig the elections. Eight days to the elections I was with Jonathan. I told him that Jega will not be there to announce him as winner. I discovered later that there were people who had done that three months earlier that Jega cannot use his mouth to pronounce him as winner. Everyone thought he will act. The children who were voting in the North and the distribution of voting cards were in favour of the North. The cards were not available for us in Lagos and the South and the minutes of the northern elders said register everyone in the North whether they are of age or not. When you go to the East be extremely niggardly but not as much as in the West .Niggardly means allow only a few to register. This was written in black and white. Initially we saw it and reviewed it. Eventually we saw it in the field, under aged kids had a field day voting. Even Card Reader rejected President Jonathan. These things were planned in detail. The rigging was carefully planned.

But some people accuse Jonathan of naivety?
It is not naivety. The man didn’t want to lose blood. He knew what was going on. Eventually I got intelligence report from our people in the North that the thing is no longer voting; that it is a matter of infidels versus believers. Adamu Muazu, the PDP national chairman and other people who worked at the top level of the campaign voted against President Jonathan. He saw these things coming and monitored them carefully. That was why it was easy to persuade him to congratulate Buhari even before the final results were counted. It was unafrican and wonderful to have done that. I know I don’t know enough of anybody but I must say that with the video I saw and the close discussions I had with him the man wanted to prevent massacre. Do you know that even in Abuja the equipment for killing were distributed? Killing who? Christians and southerners. I don’t know whether he dreamt about them also and tried to save people’s lives. This is a Christian man, a gentleman and realistic in the extreme.

source:sunday sun

IPOB women protest naked over arrest, harassment by Army

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May 20, 2017

Women of Indigenous People of of Biafra (IPOB) and other Biafran women yesterday protested naked in Abiriba, in Abia State following the alleged arrest and harassment of their members by military men at Ohafia during their general meeting.

It was gathered that as the Biafran women were holding their meetings soldiers stormed the venue and allegedly started shooting sporadically, and later arrested some of them and took them to the Barrack at Ohafia.

The action of the soldiers angered the women who later stripped naked and marched to the palace of the traditional ruler of the community protesting the soldier’s action. The traditional ruler assured them that he will make sure that those arrested would be released.

Meanwhile, the Media and Publicity officer of IPOB ,Mr. Emma Powerful in his reaction condemned what he described as barbaric and unprofessional conduct of the Nigerian Army officers against the Biafran and IPOB Women.

“According to information reaching us, the soldiers stormed the venue of the meeting with 20 Hilux vans and without provocation started beating, arresting and tearing the women’s clothes resulting in some of them being stripped naked before taking them to their barracks. Food, clothing and accessories belonging to some of the women were seized by the soldiers and taken to the Ohafia Barracks in Abia State” he alleged.

“This barbaric and wholly undemocratic conduct of the Army must be condemned by all civilised people. The primitive approach to civil policing adopted by the army makes a mockery of common sense and decency.”

Is it the duty of an army to be going about stripping women naked for no justifiable reason? The Nigerian Police also joined them in the manhandling, humiliation and molestation of our mothers whose only crime is to identify with the cause of our leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu” ? We are therefore calling on the women organizations around the globe to condemn and take this abuse of Biafra women by the Nigerian Army to the rest of the world,” Powerful declared.

However when contacted, the Deputy Director of Army Public Relations of 82 Division of Nigerian Army Col. Sagir Musa when contacted on the incident said that he was not aware of the matter as he was away at Taraba state for a conference.

Biafra Day: Security agencies can’t stop sit-at-home order –IPOB

By Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has advised all Biafrans to store food and suspend travelling as there will be no human and vehicular movement on May 30, 2017 to honour of the fallen heroes during the civil war between 1967 and 1970.

The group said that no amount of sabotage and threats by Nigerian government and security operatives designed to discourage the public from sitting at home as ordered by its leader, Nnamdi Kanu would stop it.

The Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Mr. Emma Powerful in a statement yesterday said that all markets, motor parks, banks, schools and artisans in Biafra must shut down to honour the dead.

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