BIAFRA : Kanu sitting with US leaders shows Biafra is near – IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra on Saturday hailed the leadership of the Republican Party in Iowa, United States, for inviting its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, to President Donald Trump’s campaign rally at Des Moines Iowa.

The group claimed that Kanu was a special guest at the rally held on Thursday, January 30, 2020 in the area.

It maintained development was an indication that the realisation of a sovereign state of Biafra was at hand.

In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful, the group described it as ironic for a leader that was labelled a terrorist by his home government to be treated as an important personality in an event attended by the US president.

The group reassured the people of Biafra of its commitment to actualising the republic of Biafra.

It said its collaboration to realise the objective with some powerful countries in the world was yielding results.

The statement read in part, “We, the global family of IPOB, wish to appreciate the leadership of the US Republican Party in Iowa for their invitation to our great leader Nnamdi Kanu as a special guest at Trump’s campaign rally at Des Moines Iowa last Thursday.”

BIAFRA : IPOB says Kanu’s invitation to Trump’s campaign shows Biafra is near

BIAFRA IPOB says its leader, Nnamdi Kanu was invited to a rally in US by the leadership of the Republican Party. (Punch)

AFP

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is optimistic that its agitation for Biafra will soon be realized as the leadership of the Republican Party in Iowa, United States reportedly invited Nnamdi Kanu to President Donald Trump’s campaign rally.

The group claimed its leader, Kanu was invited to the political rally as a special guest of honour on Thursday, January 30, 2020, adding that the development was an indication that the realisation of a sovereign state of Biafra was at hand, Punch reports.

IPOB made this known in a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful.

The group said it was ironic that Kanu, who was labelled a terrorist by his home government was treated as an important personality in an event attended by the The statement read in part, “We, the global family of IPOB, wish to appreciate the leadership of the US Republican Party in Iowa for their invitation to our great leader Nnamdi Kanu as a special guest at Trump’s campaign rally at Des Moines Iowa last Thursday.”

IPOB reassured the people of Biafra of its commitment to actualising the republic of Biafra, saying its collaboration with some powerful countries is already yielding results.

Court Sets New Date For Nnamdi Kanu’s Trial

A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has fixed March 31, 2020, for the continuation of the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Naija News reports that the court fixed the date after the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari asked the Federal High Court to reject a request to restore Kanu’s revoked bail.

The Buhari government filed a counter-affidavit before the court to oppose an application filed in April last year by Kanu seeking the restoration of his bail. The prosecuting counsel, Magaji Labaran filed the Federal Government’s objection to the application on January 17, 2020.

This online news platform recalls that before Kanu disappeared from Nigeria sometime in September 2017, he was being prosecuted on charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him as a response to his agitation on the IPOB platform for the secession of an independent Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.

The IPOB leader disappeared from Nigeria following soldiers’ invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State, in September 2017. Kanu, a dual citizen of Nigeria and Britain, is believed to be currently residing in the United Kingdom.

Due to his consistent absence from court, the judge presiding over his case, Justice Binta Nyako, on March 28, 2019, revoked the bail she granted him in April 2017, ordered his arrest, and directed that the trial would continue in his absence.

By the court’s order, the IPOB leader who doubles as the Director of Radio Biafra, is expected to be arrested and brought before the country if apprehended in the country.

In response, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the IPOB leader’s lawyer, on April 1, 2019, filed an application praying the court to restore the bail as a condition for Kanu to return to Nigeria to face trial.

But opposing the application in its counter-affidavit, the Federal Government, maintained that the IPOB leader, having allegedly jumped bail, was not entitled to be granted any indulgence by the court.

The counter-affidavit read, “That the defendant, in this case, is standing trial for treasonable felony and was granted bail by this honourable court.

“That the defendant has jumped bail.

“That three sureties that stood for him were asked to appear before the court and show cause after several adjournments at their instance.”

The counter-affidavit added, “That the defendant, since he jumped bail, has deliberately refused to submit to the jurisdiction of this court.

“That the defendant cannot seek any indulgence from this honourable court.”

The Federal Government said, “This court is functus officio”, implying that the court could no

In an affidavit filed in support of his application, Kanu had said he was “ready to stand trial if the safety of his life would be guaranteed by the Nigerian security agencies.”

Kanu claimed he “did not jump bail and has not voluntarily abstained from his trial to warrant the revocation of his bail and the subsequent order for his arrest.”

The affidavit added that the IPOB leader“was ever willing to stand his trial but for the unprovoked attack and bloody invasion of his residence by the Nigerian soldiers” in Afara-Ukwu, Abia State on September 17, 2017.

It noted that the “murderous raid” by the soldiers “left 28 unarmed and defenceless persons dead and many people abducted or injured”.

“That the applicant narrowly escaped death by a whisker and his subsequent and consequential absence from court was not volitional but was occasioned by the murderous invasion of his premises by the Nigerian Army,” the affidavit added.

If we recovered from 30-month Biafra war, we can handle Boko Haram

President Muhammadu Buhari says with the experience of the Nigeria’s civil war that lasted 30 months, the country is capable of defeating Boko Haram insurgency.

The civil war was fought between the government of Nigeria and the secessionist state of Biafra from July 6, 1967 to January 15, 1970.

Boko Haram insurgency has been on in the north-east for over a decade, and the crisis has displaced about 2 million people. 

While receiving Janez Lenarcic, the European Union (EU) commissioner for crisis management at the state house on Friday, Buhari, however gave assurance that it may take long but Nigeria will move ahead of the insurgency. 

“If we were capable to fight a 30-month civil war and reorganised our country, I wonder why people are thinking that Nigeria cannot do it,” the president said in a statement issued by Femi Adesina, his spokesman. 

“I assure you of Nigeria’s commitment to enhance and deepen cooperation with the EU in all areas. Our priorities in the next level is to ensure that internally displaced persons, IDPs, are rehabilitated so that livelihood should be established and the children should not lose the opportunity to go back to school, which is very important for the future of that area and Nigeria generally.

“We have the experience of the civil war. I could recall the role of the military, the army, each commander had in his pocket how to behave himself and how to allow international bodies like yourself to go round and see for themselves that people are treated in the most humane way. We have this experience and I assure you that we also have this confidence in your organisation. That is why I feel that Nigeria is capable of handling this crisis, it may take long but we are capable of handling it.

“The important thing really is weapons reaching the Sahel; the instability it is causing. Look at the casualties in Mauritania, Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali; Libya has a direct impact on the stability of the Sahel. As for Boko Haram, we try to disabuse the mind of the people and I think our people now understand the basic dishonesty in it. With my experience personally in the civil war, I am sure we will get over it.”

Buhari also said that the newly created ministry of humanitarian affairs, disaster management and social development will do a good job of managing the various humanitarian issues evolving from the north-east. 

“I assure you that we are aware of these problems and we will continue to do our best. The newly created ministry of humanitarian affairs is coordinating NEMA and others, to make sure that whatever resources we get are well utilised. The ministry will be accountable to the government instead of having too many bodies doing the same thing. We are also reaching out to foreign countries explaining to them our position, and we are confident we will get over it,” he said. 

In its resolution of January 16, 2020, the EU parliament had said there has not been progress in the fight against Boko Haram.

Reacting to the president’s remarks, Lenarcic however said the EU will like to support the efforts of the government. He said situations such as the one ongoing in the north-east, international law and international humanitarian law should apply.

BIAFRA : Osinbajo Laments Nigeria’s Failure to Leverage on Biafra Technology

Emmanuel Ugwu in Umuahia

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo Monday lamented the inability of Nigeria to leverage on the engineering and technological ingenuity that emanated from the defunct Republic of Biafra during the civil war.

He expressed the regret at a town hall meeting at the National Museum, Umuahia organised by the Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership and Development to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of Nigeria civil war.

The vice-president noted that there was an attempt to harness the Biafra technology by establishing the Project Development Agency (PRODA), Enugu to replicate and improve on the Biafra technological feats exhibited during the war.

However, he said that the objective was not achieved but did not explain the reasons why PRODA was allowed to collapse.

Prof. Osinbajo, who was accompanied to the War Museum by the host governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma and Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Mr. Uche Ogah, harped on the need to forge national unity and cohesion.

He urged Nigerians “to discard the bitterness of the past and look forward to a united Nigeria”, adding that “no human relationship is perfect and that the ties that bind us has survived intense disagreements”.

In his address, Governor Ikpeazu reminded the federal authorities that many areas in the South-east zone were subjected to intense bombardments thereby wrecking the infrastructure and devastating the environment.

He called on the federal government to pay particular attention to the development of infrastructure in the South-east in the spirit of genuine reconciliation.

Ikpeazu regretted that 50 years after the end of the civil war, Nigeria was still struggling with reconciliation, reconstruction and attainment of nationhood, adding that Nigeria should emulate Rwanda, which emerged stronger after the sad experience of genocide.

The founder of the Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership and Development, Senator Ken Nnamani, earlier in his welcome address, called on leaders to treat every part of Nigeria with fairness and not to sow seeds of discord.

Osinbajo speaks on Nigeria after civil war

Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo has said all Nigerians, despite ethnicities, must join hands together to build a strong nation where everyone can legitimately aspire to the limits of their dreams and visions in all areas of national life.

According to his Spokesman Laolu Akand, Osinbajo stated this on Monday in his address at a special Town Hall Meeting at the National War Museum in Umuahia, Abia State, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the end of the Civil War.

The event was hosted by the Civil War Museum in Umuahia under the National Commission for Museums and Monuments (NCMM) and the Ken Nnamani Centre for Leadership and Development (KNCLD).

In his address, the Vice President urged young Nigerians to shun ethnic prejudices and unite in building a better Nigeria.

“The generations born after the Civil War are navigating the adventure of being Nigerian on different terms from their forebears. Let us give them a chance to do better than ourselves,” the Vice President said.

He added, “Young Nigerians are intermarrying, migrating and comingling in the quest for love and livelihood; they are doing business together and forging alliances in civil society and politics across ethnic and religious divides.

“Our children are showing us that it is possible to forge friendships and bonds across ethnic and religious lines that are even stronger than family ties and this in itself evokes the possibilities of unity in diversity.”

Speaking further, Osinbajo described the civil war as a defining national tragedy about which robust national conversation is necessary to aid the process of healing and reconciliation.

He said, “In the 50 years that have followed since the end of the war, we have invested in national integration, peace building and reconciliation. That has been a lot less than perfect task. Our road has not been easy and we have faced many challenges along the way. But those setbacks should not induce hopelessness or despondency, but should constantly remind us that the stakes are high because of the incredible dividends of unity for us all.

“Our historic mission, therefore, is not just to build a nation that works for all of us, but to create a successful polity, an economic and social powerhouse capable of powering us and our continent to prosperity. And yet, nation-building is hard work, and bringing together the multiplicity of ethnicities, languages and creeds that make up this great land under one banner is an onerous but necessary task.”

Noting that the majority of Nigerians alive today were too young to have witnessed the Civil War and therefore have no memory of it. Prof. Osinbajo urged elders to avoid poisoning the hearts and minds of the young generations with prejudices.

The Vice President said, “The last 50 years belonged to us, but the next 50 belong to our children and their children and we have a responsibility to unshackle them from the ghosts of ancient grudges and grievances.

“As elders, we must ensure that we do not poison the minds of the young with our own prejudices and affect their ability to take advantage of the opportunities available to them in their country. We must also avoid foisting the toga of victim-hood and helplessness on the next generation.”

In his remarks at the occasion, the Chairman of the KNCLD, Senator Ken Nnamani, described the war as “a costly catastrophe that was provoked and prolonged by errors on both sides.” He said that the townhall was organized “to show that we can address the pressing issues of our time with a spirit of civility and maturity.”

The Vice President’s visit to the National War Museum, Umuahia, is part of a circuit that has seen him also visit museums in Benin and Kano. The visits, which include tours of the facilities with history students from local schools, are aimed at promoting national cohesion, rekindling popular interest in history, and encouraging tourist traffic to the museums and heritage sites.

The National War Museum was commissioned in 1989 and established to preserve the relics of the Nigerian Civil War, as well as serve as a centre for research on warfare in the country. It is also a memorial to the soldiers, civilians and other casualties of the Civil War and other conflicts in Nigeria.

The Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma; Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu; Minister of State for Steel & Mines Development, Dr. Uchechukwu Ogah; and the Official Spokesperson of the Federal House of Representatives, MHR Benjamin Kalu from Abia, also attended the event.

Others included community leaders, government functionaries, political leaders, students, academics, religious leaders, veterans of the war and representatives of civil society organizations in the South East zone.

Buhari Govt Tables Fresh Request Before Court Over Nnamdi Kanu’s Bail

The Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari has asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to reject a request by the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, to restore his revoked bail.

Naija News understands that the Buhari government filed a counter-affidavit before the court to oppose an application filed in April last year by Kanu seeking the restoration of his bail. The prosecuting counsel, Magaji Labaran filed the Federal Government’s objection to the application on January 17, 2020.

This online news platform recalls that before Kanu disappeared from Nigeria sometime in September 2017, he was being prosecuted on charges bordering on treasonable felony instituted against him as a response to his agitation on the IPOB platform for the secession of an independent Republic of Biafra from Nigeria.

The IPOB disappeared from Nigeria following soldiers’ invasion of his home in Afara-Ukwu, near Umuahia, Abia State, in September 2017. Kanu, a dual citizen of Nigeria and Britain, is believed to be currently residing in the United Kingdom.

Due to his consistent absence from court, the judge presiding over his case, Justice Binta Nyako, on March 28, 2019, revoked the bail she granted him in April 2017, ordered his arrest, and directed that the trial would continue in his absence.

By the court’s order, the IPOB leader who doubles as the Director of Radio Biafra, is expected to be arrested and brought before the country if apprehended in the country.

In response, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the IPOB leader’s lawyer, on April 1, 2019, filed an application praying the court to restore the bail as a condition for Kanu to return to Nigeria to face trial.

But opposing the application in its counter-affidavit, the Federal Government, maintained that the IPOB leader, having allegedly jumped bail, was not entitled to be granted any indulgence by the court.

The counter-affidavit read, “That the defendant, in this case, is standing trial for treasonable felony and was granted bail by this honourable court.

“That the defendant has jumped bail.

“That three sureties that stood for him were asked to appear before the court and show cause after several adjournments at their instance.”

The counter-affidavit added, “That the defendant, since he jumped bail, has deliberately refused to submit to the jurisdiction of this court.

“That the defendant cannot seek any indulgence from this honourable court.”

The Federal Government said, “This court is functus officio”, implying that the court could no longer take any step aimed at reversing the decision revoking the bail except by a higher court.

In an affidavit filed in support of his application, Kanu had said he was “ready to stand trial if the safety of his life would be guaranteed by the Nigerian security agencies.”

Kanu claimed he “did not jump bail and has not voluntarily abstained from his trial to warrant the revocation of his bail and the subsequent order for his arrest.”

The affidavit added that the IPOB leader“was ever willing to stand his trial but for the unprovoked attack and bloody invasion of his residence by the Nigerian soldiers” in Afara-Ukwu, Abia State on September 17, 2017.

It noted that the “murderous raid” by the soldiers “left 28 unarmed and defenceless persons dead and many people abducted or injured”.

“That the applicant narrowly escaped death by a whisker and his subsequent and consequential absence from court was not volitional but was occasioned by the murderous invasion of his premises by the Nigerian Army,” the affidavit added.

Naija News reports that the court adjourned Kanu’s trial until March 31, 2020