BIAFRANS NEWS : Ekweremadu MASSOB condemns IPOB’s action, apologizes to Senator

MASSOB, in a statement on Sunday by Comrade Edeson Samuel its National Director of Information, said it condemns in its totality “the assault, physical attack and disrespectful actions of some Igbos against Senator Ike Ekweremadu in Germany which we later confirmed as members of IPOB in Germany through the affirmation of IPOB’s spokesman, Emma Powerful.”        The Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) has condemned the attack on former Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu in Germany by members of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

Ekweremadu was attacked in Germany where he had gone to deliver a speech at an annual Igbo festival.      Edeson said it was disheartening that some groups had turned the non-violent struggle for the actualization of Biafra state into an abusive and systematic gestapo against the supposed citizens of Biafra.

He added that “The physical attack on Ike Ekweremadu by IPOB is not commendable. Igbo culture abhors disrespect on elders and persons in authoritative positions.

“If Ike Ekweremadu is sabotaging or has sabotaged Biafra struggle as alleged by IPOB, what meaningful and acceptable steps has IPOB taken to draw the attention of Ike Ekweremadu to the alleged degradation?

“MASSOB as a leading figure of current Biafra agitation advises other pro Biafra groups, including IPOB that Igbo political leaders are not the major obstacle to our chances of achieving independence from Nigeria state, the major hurdles militating against the freedom of Biafra people from Nigeria is non cohesion and brotherhood among the leaders of leading pro Biafra groups.

“The tendency of superiority complex on ideology and the spirit of lordship over others are the detrimental tendencies grossly affecting the freedom of Biafrans.

“Ike Ekweremadu and other perceived and alleged enemies of Biafra are not our major obstacle against Biafra. IPOB can never actualize Biafra alone, neither MASSOB, LNC, BNC, BIM and others operating individually can achieve Biafra alone.

“Biafra will be more achievable when a strong coalition of MASSOB, IPOB, Lower Niger Congress, BNC, BIM and others from Niger Delta regions are established under a collegiate leadership.

“The tendency of grooming authoritarian leadership under any guise in Igbo land and Biafra in general will never be tolerated because the republican nature of Igbo man does not allow such authoritative and empirical rulership.”

“MASSOB also condemns the directives to attack the governors of southeast; consciously attacking a governor will never give us Biafra but will continue sending our youths to untimely deaths because every attack on a governor will attract the trigger happy Hausa Fulani security agents in Igbo land to open fire on our defenceless youths. Tomorrow, they will say governors ordered the killings of IPOB members.

“MASSOB also apologizes to Chief Ike Ekweremadu for the physical assault on his person. We admonish Senator Ike Ekweremadu to absolve the assault as a family affair between a father and his children. Hausa Fulanis and other enemies of Ndigbo are happy but we must shame them when they see you in a cordial relationship with your people.

“MASSOB calls and extends a hand of fellowship to IPOB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, BIM led by Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, BNC led Alhaji Dokubo Asari and other pro Biafra groups to rally together in the true spirit of Biafra and defend Biafra land from the Fulani invaders and marauders.

“The era of propaganda and talking on radio / newspaper has gone, people’s opinions on social media will never give us Biafra. Let’s unite and confront our common enemy. Though our governors and other leaders are not assisting the Biafra struggle, we can engage them traditionally, not insulting them,” Edeson further stated.

BIAFRANS NEWS : POLITICSSoutheast PDP Chairman condemns attack on Ekweremadu

Umahi made this known in a statement signed and forwarded to DAILY POST at the weekend in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi State.     The National Vice Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South East zone, Chief Austin Umahi, has condemned the attack on Senator Ike Ekweremadu by suspected members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Nurnberg Germany.      He frowned at the action of the group against Ekweremadu whom he said has been on the forefront of the struggle against the marginalization of Ndi-Igbo in the Nigerian Federation.

The zonal Chairman said he was surprised that some individuals could hide under the name of the proscribed IPOB to attack Ekweremadu after all his efforts as the leader of Southeast Senate caucus in the 8th Senate to secure the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the self acclaimed leader of the group, from detention.

He said for Senator Ekweremadu to have travelled to far away Nurnberg in Germany to attend the second annual festival and covention organized by Ndi-Igbo resident there, was a demonstration of his undying love for Ndi-Igbo which he has been exhibiting over the years.

Umahi urged Ekweremadu not to be discouraged by the attack; but see it as one of the many sacrifices he has to pay in pursuit for justice and better treatment for Ndi-Igbo both within and outside the country.

He also called for the arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators of the dastardly act to serve as a deterrent to others.

“I advised any individual or group that has any genuine reason to agitate, to do so, through the Southeast Governors Forum, the Ohanaeze Ndi-igbo and through other legitimate means within the Nigerian federation; rather than resorting to self help” he stated.

BIAFRANS NEWS : Ekweremadu Ex-minister, Chidoka makes demand from ex-Deputy Senate President’s attackers

Chidoka demanded apology from the lawmaker’s attackers.

The ex-Minister was reacting to a video clip posted on social media, where the senator was attacked by some persons, a situation, which resulted in his hurried evacuation from the venue of the event.     Former Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka has condemned Saturday’s attack in Nurnberg, Germany on Senator Ike Ekweremadu, the immediate past Deputy Senate President of Nigeria.     Ekweremadu was in Germany to speak at the Second Annual Cultural Festival and Convention of Ndi-Igbo living in that country.

The former Aviation minister has now demanded an unreserved apology from organisers of the event and the perpetrators of the attack on the senator.

Chidoka, who spoke through his media aide, Mr Ikechukwu Okafor on Sunday, said Ekweremadu had received a heroic welcome by the organisers and everything went smoothly until some men stormed the venue.

“The melee brought an abrupt end to the event, while the senator was seen in a video that went viral attempting to leave the venue amid attacks by the men.

“‪I demand an apology by perpetrators of this unwarranted attack on Sen. Ike Ekweremadu; I condemn it.

“Ekweremadu never supported Operation Python Dance, neither did he participate in the plan for the operation in the Southeast (zone of the country).

“Ekweremadu did not participate in the plan for operation python dance. Rather, he opposed it.

“Ekweremadu led several delegations to President (Muhammadu Buhari) on the release of Mr Nnamdi Kanu, and spoke out at critical times in support of the Igbo cause.

“He does not deserve this (kind of) treatment,” Chidoka said.

BIAFRANS NEWS : Northern group finally joins RevolutionNow protest, gives reasons

The Arewa group said that the northern Nigeria has been pushed to the wall and is now joining other parts of the country in a prolonged revolution protest until a result is achieved.           A Northern group, known as Arewa Northern Action Front, has called on the North to join the ‘RevolutionNow’ protest since, according to the group, President Muhammadu Buhari has continued working with a cabal of Mamman Daura, Ismaila Funtua and Abba Kyari.        A statement jointly signed by

Samuel D. Katung and Comrade Tanko Mustapha, chairman and secretary respectively, said, “We therefore give notice that northern Nigeria has been pushed to the wall and is now joining other parts of the country in a prolonged revolution protest until result is achieved.
“Our schedule for the takeoff is as follows: Kaduna, Bauchi, Benue, Plateau States- (Thursday, Friday 22-23 August 2019). After this, we analyze progress made and take up the second lap.

“Members of CNG and other groups and individuals who feel differently about it are free to either join or stay awayi but they are warned never to attempt to stand in the way of a moving bulldozer.”

The group noted that while it recognizes the right of individuals or other groups like the Coalition of Northern Groups to hold contrary opinion, it said, “We don’t see justification in CNG influencing the entire North not to participate in the Revolutionow even when northerners are the major casualties of the atrocities of this government.

“Unfortunately instead of the North to cooperate with the Revolutionow movement to help force the cabal out of action, some groups withheld northerners from participating and unknowingly, gave more powers to Buhari and his cabal.”

It explained that insecurity permeates a vast area of the northern region majorly caused by poverty and slow pace of governance at all levels, and Buhari “has stubbornly refused to leave those cabal who are pulling his government down”.

“Buhari has stubbornly refused to replace Mr Godwin Emefiele as Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria after all the bad things he did against the North by denying our people access to federal government empowerment initiatives.

“With all these problems going on in the country and most of them due to the wicked cabal around the Presidential, the time became overdue for a massive protest all over the country as called by Mr Sowore and the #Revolutionow team,” the group observed.

It explained that they are believers in the personal integrity and capabilities of Buhari, adding that it is out of love and desire to see him carry this country to the Next Level that they joined protests earlier to force him to take the wheel of the Nigerian ship and not forsake the country in the hands of a cabal without peoples mandate or human sympathy.

“The demand at that time was simply that the people of this country elected Muhammadu Buhari as their President, not Mamman Daura, not Ismaila Funtua, and definitely not Abba Kyari. Only President Buhari has our mandate to govern over the affairs of this nation.

“I really agreedPresident Buhari was asked to take back control of his Government and begin to walk his talk during the campaign by delivering on the promises made.

“These promises can only be achieved if the President is in the drivers seat not passenger’s seat and if he is surrounded by patriotic men and women of goodwill who assisted him during the campaign in the eyes of the world, travel the nooks and crannies of thus country to sell the ideology of the change mantra to the generality of Nigerians. And nor those who hide away when the going get tough, only to re-emerge when the tough work is done and the battle is won,” the group said.

BIAFRANS NEWS : Three killed, LGA chairman escapes, monarch beaten as cultists sack two communities

Two communities in Bangha clan, Khana Local Government Area were sacked over the weekend by suspected members of rampaging cult gangs in the area.          Despite appeals by stakeholders and re-enforcement of police personnel, cult gangs have continued to run riot in Khana Local government area of Rivers state.       Sources told DAILY POST that cult gangs invaded Luu-Mene community, killed unknown number of persons, destroyed houses and beat up the Paramount Ruler, identified as Mene BARISUA, and then extended their attack to Kere-Bangha community where they also committed arson.

An indigene of Kere-Bangha, Lucky Deekae, who confirmed the attack, said several inhabitants of his community and their neighbouring Luu-mene community fled their homes for fear of reprisal attacks.

Meanwhile, the Rivers state Police Command has denied that the number of casualties recorded in the attack in communities in Khana LGA was high.

Spokesman of the Command, DSP Nnamdi Omoni was reacting to reports that 16 persons lost their lives in the gang attack on the two communities.

Omoni, in a statement made available to DAILY POST, said the figures being bandied in some sections of the media, is fake news capable of stirring disaffection and causing panic and tension in the State.

However, while confirming the incident, Omoni stated that three persons were killed in the two attacks but officers were able to capture two suspected cultists; thirty-three-year-old, Demwua Karagbara and twenty-three year Old, Dinee Prince.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Rivers State Police Command has been drawn to the above ‘Caption’ making the rounds on Social and Traditional media on the State of affairs in Opuoko and Lumene Communities in Khana LGA.

“Ordinarily, this distorted news should have been ignored as the Command is not given to frivolities and fake news capable of stirring disaffection and causing panic and tension in the State.

“However, in order that the public will not be immediately misinformed and hold erroneous impression resulting from the fake news, we have therefore deemed it necessary to put the records straight and state as follows.

“That today 18/8/19 at about 0630Hrs, information got to us that a group of Cult boys invaded two Communities in Khana (Opuoko and Lumene) where they attacked and killed one person in Opuoko and two in Lumene, altogether three persons died.

“The houses of the LGA Chairman and the former Youth Leader came under attack.

“The attackers on sighting the Police took to flight but were chased and two of them arrested, while the trail for others is still on.

“Exhibits recovered from them include: Assorted Phones and Military Camouflage.

“So far, calm has returned in both Communities.

“The CP has ordered Investigation into the incident with a view to ascertaining the remote and immediate causes of the attack and to bring perpetrators to justice.

“We are again appealing to the public to help us with useful information that can lead to the arrest of these mindless criminals.”

BIAFRANS NEWS : Ekweremadu’s attack confirms North sponsoring Nnamdi Kanu against Igbo presidency – Deji Adeyanju

Adeyanju said the attack on the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu by IPOB members in Germany was a proof that Kanu and his group were being sponsored to compromise the South East.       Convener of Concerned Nigerians, Deji Adeyanju, on Sunday reiterated his claim that leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, collected money from Northerners to ensure an Igbo man never becomes Nigeria’s President.     Senator Ekweremadu was to give a keynote address at the Second Igbo Annual Cultural Festival and Convention organised by Ndi-Igbo Germany in that city when a mob, which identified itself as members of IPOB, invaded the venue and attacked the former Deputy Senate President.

Reacting to the attack, Adeyanju, in a statement he signed, said: “For those defending the attack on Ekweremadu, all I can do is laugh. Don’t complain tomorrow when others attacks IPOB or Nnamdi Kanu. I have said severally that Kanu collected money from the government to compromise and run away and I maintain this argument.

“He’s a business man looking for where to collect. He’s not driven by ideology or love for the Igbos. The attack on Ekweremadu justifies the stand of those who have repeatedly said “you can’t trust the Igbos with power”. And your guess is as good as mine.

“Those sponsoring Kanu from the North are those who want the Igbos perpetually divided and those who don’t want an Igbo man to ever be president of this country which is what many of us have canvassed for over the years.

“At a time when many are saying it’s the time of the Igbos to rule in 2023, you find some clowns saying they don’t believe in Nigeria and attack one of their own sons who honored their invitation.

“How best can we explain the conspiracy? When we ask them how they will achieve Biafra, all we get are insults. Is it by war or osmosis?

“How will you amend the constitution to give way for secession? These are the question Kanu and his gang of fraudsters can never answer. They are only doing the bidding of their paymasters.”

BIAFRAN NEWS : Mahmood-led INEC partisan, uses APC members to write election results for Buhari – PDP alleges

It also alleged that the development confirmed that the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, used APC members to write figures for President Muhammadu Buhari to win the February 23, presidential election.       The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sunday alleged that Frankland Briyia’s declaration of governorship ambition for Bayelsa State while in office as the Cross River State Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, has exposed INEC as being partisan under the chairmanship of Prof. Yakubu Mahmood.    The opposition party’s spokesman, Kola Ologbondiyan, made these claims in a statement in Abuja.

PDP maintained that “the manifestation of Mr. Frankland Briyia, the erstwhile Cross River state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), as an All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Bayelsa state, while still in office, is a direct confirmation that the APC used its members to write figures for President Muhammadu Buhari in the February Presidential election.

“The party notes that Mr. Briyia’s governorship ambition on the platform
of the APC, which he announced while still in the confines of his office as REC, amply exposed INEC as a partisan electoral umpire under the watch of Professor Yakubu Mahmud.

“The PDP states that the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari did not sanction Mr. Briyia, even after he brazenly announced his ambition right in INEC facility, betrays APC’s embedded interests in the commission, which manifested in the manipulation of processes related to the Presidential elections.

“The PDP invites Nigerians to note that INEC, in a recent statement, denied receiving any resignation letter from Mr. Briyia at the time he announced his governorship ambition.”

PDP also challenged Buhari to come out clean on the real reason he failed to sanction the Cross River REC in line with the law.

It also urged the President to speak out on allegations in the public space that his Presidency failed to sanction Briyia because of the role he allegedly played in favour of the APC in the Presidential election.

PDP, however, insisted that INEC must be sanitized, and called on the National Assembly to open a public hearing on the issue as well as effect amendments in the Electoral Act to check the appointment and retention of persons with political leanings as electoral officers as well as recommending stringent sanctions for infringements in that direction.