BIAFRA : Buhari to assign portfolios to ministers-designate on Wednesday

This was confirmed in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, today in Abuja.

Buhari and the Ministers-designate engaged each other in a two-day retreat, which ended on Tuesday.      President Muhammadu Buhari will assign portfolios to his new cabinet members on Wednesday.

The second and final day of the retreat kicked off with a presentation on Cabinet Processes and Procedures, by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha.

This was followed by a presentation by the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Adams Oshiomhole, on aligning government policies with the ideology, manifesto and campaign promises of the ruling party.

“Subsequent presentations touched on Budgeting, Civil Service Reforms, Public Procurement, the Relationships among Ministers and Permanent Secretaries, and Effective Partnerships between Executive, Legislature and State Governments,” Adesina said.

Adesina also revealed that the Ministers-designate would be sworn in on August 21 at the State House, after which they would be allocated portfolios by the president.

“Following the swearing-in, each minister will be given a mandate, based on the assigned ministry, and which will spell out priorities, deliverables and timelines.

“In addition, a robust monitoring and evaluation framework will also be put in place to track the implementation of all policies and programmes over the next four years,” he said.

IPOB : Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB under attack for assaulting Ekweremadu in Germany

The group described the attack on Ekweremadu as “a callous act of ingratitude” considering that he was the same person who rallied other leaders to save Nnamdi Kanu from languishing in jail, saying that, 

“In Igboland, the hen does not raise its beak against the one who gave it shelter during the rainfall!”    

   An Igbo socio-cultural organization, Igbo Bu Igbo (IBI), has condemned in strong terms the recent attack on the immediate past Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, by some members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Nuremberg, Germany.         

The group described the attack on Ekweremadu as “a callous act of ingratitude” considering that he was the same person who rallied other leaders to save Nnamdi Kanu from languishing in jail, saying that, “In Igboland, the hen does not raise its beak against the one who gave it shelter during the rainfall!”

In a statement signed by the group’s Chancellor, Dr Law Mefor; the Secretary-General, Mazi Chidi Omeje, which was made available to BIAFRANS NEWS on Tuesday, IBI lamented how “the unfortunate, unprovoked and crass attack on the Senator has created the wrong notion that the Igbo cannot conduct themselves in decent manners. We reject such a notion as that is not who we are”.

“No matter what the grievances of these misguided IPOB members could be against Senator Ike Ekweremadu, resorting to bestial tendencies to settle scores is not part of our culture.”

IBI, which said the attack was unnecessary and was tantamount to descending to the arena of jungle justice which should have no place among civilized people, called on IPOB to “desist from such actions that can be used to justify the terrorist tag it has already been labeled with by the federal government.

“The orchestrated physical attack on Ekweremadu should not be seen as democratic protest, and if not condemned by good spirited Nigerians will be extended even to the ordinary citizens in due course.

“We cannot applaud barbarity under whatever guise. What is condemnable is condemnable and we condemn that mob action in Germany in the strongest terms possible.

“With the threats subsequently issued against Igbo leaders across board by IPOB, they are creating a recipe for disaster. Ndigbo must not fall for the antics of misguided leaders and members of the group to turn us against one another.

“We must stand firm in our resolve to pursue the growth and development of Igbo land without dragging it into a state of rancour, chaos, anarchy and doom.

“We urge IPOB to convert such energy and take advantage of its reach to bring about its desired good governance in Igbo land by actively participating in politics of the region and the country if it so desires.

“While we admit that the political space is still fraught with gross imperfections, it is our belief that IPOB can use its numerous strengths to prevent being shortchanged in the political processes and enthrone, through the ballot box, candidates of their choice through whom they can effectively pursue their goals.

“While we must hold our leaders accountable and scrutinize them at all times, we must also come together to vehemently reject the warped philosophy where a group purporting to be pursuing the interest of Ndigbo arrogates to itself the power to pronounce life and death on others. IPOB should not push its luck too far,” the statement added.

BIAFRANS : After Ekweremadu Attack, Orji Kalu Cancels Trip To Spain

I was invited by an Igbo group in Spain to attend their function, I could not go because of the interaction with my constituents     fomer governor of Abia State and sitting senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, has cancelled his trip to Spain after members of the Indigenous People of Biafra in Germany attacked former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, on Saturday.

Kalu however, said his decision to ditch the trip was not to avoid assault from members of IPOB.

In statement on Monday, Kalu explained that he has been in his country home, Igbere, interacting with members of his constituency since the National Assembly went on recess.

The lawmaker said he had held several meetings with the people of Abia North at his residence in Igbere.

The statement reads, “I have been in my country home interacting with people from my constituency and settling disputes.

“The news that I suspended my planned medical trip abroad is not true.

“I was invited by an Igbo group in Spain to attend their function, I could not go because of the interaction with my constituents.”

BIAFRANS : Ekweremadu speaks on Nnamdi Kanu

Senator Ike Ekweremadu asks governors and leaders from the south east to ignore the threat by Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) - Ekweremadu wants the leaders from the zone to leave Kanu to his conscience over the recent threat message to them 

The former deputy president of the Senate recalls many sacrifices he has made in the interest of the zone and Nigeria Moments after arriving Nigeria, former deputy president of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu,

 urged governors and leaders from the south east to leave Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to his conscience.

 Ekweremadu noted that the same set of leaders that Kanu and his proscribed group are targeting helped him when he was in detention. Speaking through his media aide, Uche Anichukwu, Ekweremadu said: 

“Let me just say that the leaders he (Kanu) was mentioning were responsible for getting him out of jail in the first place. Read more:  

 What we will do in this circumstance is to leave him to his conscience, the verdict of history, and possibly the repercussions of ingratitude. 

“But I hope he won’t go to the extent of attacking any of the south east leaders anywhere.”

 The former deputy Senate president said he has no regrets speaking for justice for the Igbo people as well as helping to facilitate the release of Kanu from detention. Noting that he is still a senator in Nigeria, he added that his job remains to speak out when there is injustice anywhere. He added: 

“We have problem in the north east. I have visited the north east. I visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps there. “I donated money. I sent relief materials. We had problem in the south south, I visited the creeks and saw the environmental challenges there for myself.”

 He recalled being one of the few people the late President Musa Yar’Adua consulted before he decided on the issue of amnesty for the militants in the Niger Read more: 

BIAFRANS : Ndi-Igbo Germany apologises over attack on Ekweremadu

The body said the event was part of its efforts to encourage foreign investment and industrialisation of Igboland, noting that it “provided a forum for Igbo people in Diaspora to network and to engage German business community with interest in investments and development in Igboland in particular and Nigeria in general”.        Ndi-Igbo Germany, an umbrella body of Igbo people living in Germany on Monday tendered an unreserved apology to the former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, over the weekend attack on him by members of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra in Nuremberg, Germany.

A statement by Uche Anichukwu, Special Assistant to Ekweremadu on Media said the group has said that any embarrassment to a leading light of Ndigbo like Ekweremadu was an embarrassment to the entire Igbo race and Nigeria, vowing to ensure that the law runs its full           According to Anichukwu, the apology letter was signed by NIG leader, Engr. Ogechukwu Nsofor. He quoted the group as saying, “We, Ndi-Igbo Germany, the umbrella/apex union of all Igbo unions operating in the Federal Republic of Germany are shocked and dismayed by the unprovoked, unwarranted and senseless attack unleashed on Senator Ike Ekweremadu in Nuremberg, Germany.

“Ndi-Igbo Germany, wish to offer our unequivocal apology to our special guest of honour, Senator Ike Ekweremadu – former Deputy Senate President – for the unfortunate treatment misdirected at him by members of Indigenous Peoples Of Biafra in Germany during the occasion of our second Annual Igbo Cultural Festival and Convention 2019.

“It must be emphasised that Senator Dr. Ike Ekweremadu had nothing personal to gain in attending our cultural day. Rather the Igbo residents here in Germany lost an opportunity to tap into his reservoir of knowledge.

“No words can describe our shock, our consternation, and our sadness at this inexcusable, shameful and senseless attack. We apologise from the depths of our hearts that you had to experience such a horrible thing here in our midst. This is not how we are here. Please do not hold this incident against the 99 per cent law-abiding Umu-Igbo in Germany.

“Our apologies go to Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo and to all well-meaning Igbo-Diasporan groups and associations both at home and abroad for this disgrace.

“We sincerely apologize to the National Assembly and indeed to our entire country for such an unwarranted assault on Senator Ike Ekweremadu by the IPOB members in Germany.”    He added, “Let this event be a rallying call to all Umu Igbo at home and worldwide to always seek unity rather than primitively turning against ourselves in senseless violence which will make neutral and friendly global nations turn away from us.

“Ndi-Igbo Germany (N.I.G) condemns in strongest terms this action by the members of IPOB in Germany against Senator Ike Ikweremadu. Ndi-Igbo Germany distances herself from any group that encourages violence, directly       It is not acceptable that an Igbo man or woman would come to the occasion of an ancient Igbo traditional event like Iri-ji and not only cause commotion, but also physically attack an invited guest, a fellow Igbo brother from home and a senior Igbo elder statesman in the person of Senator Dr. Ike Ekweremadu. This is an abomination in Igbo land. And in a foreign land! Is this what we have come to in our united struggle, Ndi Igbo? A house divided against itself cannot stand.

“This single action will cost IPOB in Germany more than 70 per cent of  her hitherto sympathisers. What IPOB Germany thought in their inept, diminutive, and megalomaniac mindset as a humiliation of Senator Ekweremadu is, in reality, a humiliation of the Igbo race in a foreign land”.

BIAFRANS : What Ekweremadu said about attack in Germany, Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB after return to Nigerian

Ekweremadu advised Nigerians, including Igbo leaders, to feel free to travel to any part of the world they wished to, maintaining that the attitude of his assailants did not represent the dispositions and behaviour of Nigerians in the diaspora.    VIDOE

      Former Deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Monday evening, said he was unruffled by the attack on him by members of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra in Nuremberg, Germany at the weekend. 

   “I think they were just people, who were misdirected and misguided. I had the feeling they were under the influence of alcohol. 

They don’t represent the feelings of our people. There is nothing to worry about.

“The organisers, the Igbo in Germany, have written a letter apologising for what happened. Everybody is free to go anywhere because those ones don’t represent the behaviour of Nigerians abroad.

“For me, I have moved on. The government and authorities of Germany are free to do whatever they wish about it”, he said.

On what he would do in the face of the attack by IPOB and the threats to attack more Igbo leaders, especially the governors of the South East, Ekweremadu said: “Let me just say that the leaders he (Kanu) was mentioning were responsible for getting him out of jail in the first place.

“What we will do in this circumstance is to leave him to his conscience, the verdict of history, and possibly the repercussions of ingratitude. But I hope he won’t go to the extent of attacking any of the South East leaders anywhere”.

He maintained that he had no regrets speaking of for justice for Ndigbo and helping to facilitate Kanu’s release, saying he believed in justice for all irrespective of tribe, religion or region.

“First of all, I am a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. My job is to speak out when there is injustice anywhere. We have problem in the North East. I have visited the North East.

“I visited the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps there. I donated money. I sent relief materials. We had problem in the South-South, I visited the creeks and saw the environmental challenges there for myself.

“I was one of the few people the late President Musa Yar’Adua consulted before he decided on the issue of amnesty. I was the person, who advised him that he needed to call a meeting of the Council of State. So, he had to invite the then Attorney General to discuss that issue with me and I advised them on the constitutional implications of amnesty.

“So, I have always spoken out on matters that concern Nigerians no matter where they come from. I believe in justice for all. It had nothing to do with IPOB”, he added.

BIAFRANS : Police speak on video showing Muslim youths burning Igbo man

DSP Anjuguri Manzah, Police Public Relations Officer, in a statement sent to DAILY POST on Monday, said the incident did not occur in Abuja as widely believed.

“The Command emphatically want to note that discreet checks have been conducted across the nooks and crannies of FCT and no incident of such nature was recorded or even reported”, it read.     The FCT Police Command has reacted to a trending video wherein an Igbo young man was set ablaze by irate Muslim youths.    “It is also pertinent to add that the environment depicted in the circulating video does not represent any part of FCT.

“Members of the public are therefore advised to disregard and consider as misleading the circulating video.

“Meanwhile, the Command wishes to reassure members of the public of its preparedness and commitment to protect lives and property and to forestall any act that could result in the breakdown of law and order in the Federal Capital Territory.

“Social media users are also advised to be mindful of information they circulate through their platforms.”