BIAFRA : Evil will be punished – Ihedioha reacts to reaffirmation of Uzodinma’s victory

Former Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has broken silence on the Supreme Court reaffirmation of Hope Uzodinma as the duly elected governor.

The apex court, last Tuesday, dismissed Ihedioha’s application which urged it to review its judgment in favour Uzodinma.

Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, who read the judgment said the application lacked merit.

However, Justice Sentus Nweze one of the members of the 7-man panel, differed.

He declared that the ruling will continue to haunt the legal jurisprudence of the apex court on issue of its status of finality.

In statement on Sunday, Ihedioha said the verdict was not the expected outcome and that the good governance Imo people desired has been halted.

“I, therefore, feel a sense of pride and gratitude for the wonderful energy and commitment that we deployed together to secure the mandate that has now been brazenly stolen from us.

“Permit me to use this opportunity to thank all those who played one role or another in this historic quest for justice and truth. I must thank members of the diplomatic community for voicing their concerns for the stability of our country. I commend the Chairman and Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for their vanguard role and leadership during this period.

“In particular, my special thanks go to all Imo citizens for their uncommon support, solidarity, and collective outrage. Never have a people been so united and committed to a cause. You prayed, fasted, marched, protested and even cried. You sacrificed your time, resources, and endeavour for this just cause.

“On this matter, the people of Imo State collectively rose to demand for justice and fairness. Imo people rose up in defence of their right to elect leaders of their choice. Our people resoundingly rejected oppression and power grab, defied imposition, injustice and tyranny. I salute Imo people for this display of courage in the face of oppressive state power.

“I will forever be in the debt of Nigerians of all walks of life, across ethnic, religious and political divides, senior citizens, journalists, civil societies, ordinary men and women of good conscience, who added their voice to condemn the injustice done in our case. These are people unknown to me personally but who could not bear the illogic of turning number four to number one on the basis of a fraudulently procured result, and appealed to the Supreme Court to save itself and our judiciary.

“Whatever may be the personal injury I suffer as a result of the miscarriage of justice, my main concern in this whole tragic episode is not about me. It has always been about the implications this judgement could have for the future of our democracy and the right of the electorate to have their votes count.

“If institutions that are critical to the entrenchment of rule of law could thwart the wishes of the people in a cynical manner, where lies the future of our democracy? That was why I sought a review of the Supreme Court judgement. Even though justice was not served at the end, the well articulated dissenting judgement delivered by His Lordship, Justice Centus Nweze, has vindicated our stand. I am sure that history and posterity will be kind to him.

“To those who are rejoicing about their successful political fraud at the expense of Imo people, as well as their collaborators, let me leave them with the immortal words of the late journalist, Dele Giwa: “No evil deed will go unpunished; any evil done by man to man will be redressed; if not now then certainly later; if not by man, then by God for the victory of evil over good is temporary’. We believe that God will render the ultimate judgment. He has been with us through this peaceful struggle. And our future is in His hands.

“In conclusion, I wish to express my appreciation to members of our legal team who pushed the frontiers of electoral jurisprudence to advance our constitutional democracy. I wish also to thank my team of committed colleagues who served in various capacities during our administration. It has been a great privilege to serve the people of Imo State as Governor.

“I am proud to have been the recipient of their genuine mandate. I will forever cherish the support, solidarity and cooperation given to me during my tenure. My belief in the ultimate triumph and supremacy of the will of the people remains intact. I pray God to bless and reward all those who stood firm on the path of justice and fair play.”

Ihedioha said he had accepted his removal as part of trials and difficulties of life and has become wiser and more sympathetic to the plights of others in similar circumstances.

He vowed never to give up on the struggle for a better Imo State. And for a better governed Nigeria.

BIAFRA ; NEWS$22.7 loan: Nigeria will split if South East is excluded – Ohanaeze warns Buhari

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, OYC, has warned that there will be crisis in the country if part of the $22.7 billion loan approved by the Senate for President Muhammadu Buhari-led executive is not used to build infrastructures in the South East.

OYC warned that, “South East exclusion will fuel crisis and political uncertainty and push the region out of Nigeria.”

This was contained in a statement signed by the President-General, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, and Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, the Secretary General of OYC and made available to DAILY POST on Sunday.

Ohanaeze said it was studying diligently the details of the approved 22.7 billion dollars loan which was meant to address the infrastructural deficiencies in the country and demanded that the government publish the details of the zones that would benefit from it.

The Igbo youth group warned that any plan to exclude Southeast from being beneficiary will send wrong signals capable of shaking the foundation and the unity of the country as “it will not augur well for the administration of President Buhari which we Support.”

“President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2015 electoral promise to revamp Enugu Coal Mine had not been formally addressed since 5 years ago.

“[We] present these Southeast Federal projects that should be factored into the 22.7 billion dollars loan and shouldn’t be denied for any political reasons, they include, completion of 2nd Niger Bridge; drainage of Imo River with establishment of Owerrinta Dry Sea Port in Abia State; Revamp Of Enugu Coal Mine; Resuscitation of Nkalagu Cement Plant and Factory Ebonyi State; Commencement of Federal Roads approved during the valendatory session of the Federal Executive Council on 22nd May 2019, which the Hon Minister of Power, Works and Housing had kept mum on.

“These Federal abandoned Expressways approved are, “reconstruction and dualisation of ABA-ikot Ekpene Road, rehabilitation and dualization of Umuahia-ikot Ekpene Road, dualization of Owerri-ABA Expressways , rehabilitation of Akoka-Okigwe Expressway, reconstruction of Abaomege-Ugep Expressway and completions of Enugu-Abakiliki-Ogoja Trans African Highway.

“OYC insists that these Capital Projects should be factored into the 22.7 billion dollars loan on behalf of the Southeast Zone. We are still monitoring the development of ongoing Works on the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, Onitsha- Enugu Expressway and Ohafia-Arochukwu Roads,” it said.

The organisation warned that tensions are already brewing up in the South East on the rumour that Southeast has been excluded from the 22.7 billion dollars loan.

OYC called on the Federal Government to publish the beneficiaries of the proposed loan with inclusions of South East projects to douse the tension.

Ohanaeze noted that “silence in these situations will be a provocative attempt to push Southeast zone out of Nigeria.”

The Igbo youth organisation, therefore, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct those involved to include the above listed abandoned federal projects to save Nigeria from disintegration.

IPOB : Biafra is buried – Ex-APC presidential aspirant, Garba tells Nnamdi Kanu, others

A former All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential aspirant, Adamu Garba, has declared that Biafra is dead and buried.

Garba urged pro-Biafra agitators to ignore the secession move and look for something better.

He was reacting to the commendation that greeted the decision of the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe to oppose the senate’s approval of $22.79bn external loan requested by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Senate had approved the loan after a heated debate which led to a closed-door executive session.

Speaking during the debate, Abaribe had tackled the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan for “shutting out the rest of the senate members on the approval of the loan.”

Abaribe had said: “We are going to pass a loan of $22.7billion for which we are being denied the privilege to express our reservations. You are putting us in a very impossible position.

“There are some aspect of this loan that we object to. I want to ask on behalf of our colleagues here that we take these items one by one and vote on them.”

“I want to quote one popular saying that he who goes a borrowing, goes a borrowing.”

However, Garba in a tweet, wrote: “Our brothers from the South East are happily celebrating Senator Abaribe for his effective representation, you know why?

“Because he joined party politics, won election through the law. So he represents Most of you can too, just stop following the buried Biafra trust in Nigeria.”

BIAFRA : Coronavirus in Nigeria Health Minister gives update on co-passengers of Italian patient

BIAFRANS :  Nigeria’s Minister of Health, Osagie Ehanire, has said that they are still tracking the 93 passengers, who boarded the same Turkish Airlines flight with the Italian, who became the index patient for coronavirus in the country.

Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Friday, Ehanire revealed that 55 of the 148 passengers were being monitored.

The Italian, who identity is still being witheld, arrived in Nigeria one week ago and tested postive for the virus.

He is presently being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos state.

Ehanire said: “The contacts of the index case are currently under supervised self-isolation and the states have provided them with the temperature tools.

“Of the 148 passengers on the manifest of the index case flight, 55 are actively being followed up.

“The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and Port Health Services are in touch with them to monitor their temperatures and possible appearance of COVID-19 symptoms.

“We are tracing out others. I urge any passengers of the Turkish Airlines Flight to Lagos on February 24 listening to me to contact us on 080097000-10.”

The coronavirus, which originated from Wuhan in China, has spread to over 90 countries.

Kanu to lead IPOB one million man march in US

Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu has disclosed the plan by his group to stage a million man march in Capitol Hill, Washington DC, USA for the agitation of Biafra and condemnation of various insecurity challenges in Nigeria, as well as the recent decisions of the Supreme Court.

Media and Publicity Secretary of IPOB, Emma Powerful disclosed this in a press statement he made available to newsmen in Owerri, yesterday.

According to the statement, “the global and indomitable family of the Indigenous People of Biafra, ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to humbly notify Biafrans, friends of Biafra, persecuted Judeo-Christian communities in Nigeria, victims of terrorism and state sponsored genocide, including all who are reeling from brutal land grabbing tendencies of the vandals from the Sahel, about the upcoming IPOB One Million Man Match scheduled to hold in Washington DC on 20th of June 2020.

“Our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his entourage will lead this march of Biafrans, the forcefully dispossessed, all victims of religious persecution, the enslaved and oppressed minorities in Northern Nigeria, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom all over the world on the match towards the liberation of victims of neo-colonial subjugation in Nigeria on that fateful day near Capitol Hill, Washington USA.”

The pro-Biafra group wants all Igbo, Christians to take part in the protest match.

“We are delighted to announce that we have sought and have been granted relevant permits by the various US  state and federal law enforcement agencies in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia as millions of Biafrans and non-Biafrans, persecuted Christian communities from across the globe are expected to storm Washington DC for this once in a lifetime march to draw global attention to the unspeakable human misery and rivers of blood flowing throughout Biafra land and Nigeria at large.”

He noted further “IPOB’s determination to set free all captives is unwavering and relentless. We have reached many and are continuing to reach out to all representatives, groups and associations of marginalised, oppressed and subdued communities across Nigeria domicilled in the USA to be part of this historic event.

“This unique event in Washington DC will bring home to politicians and policy makers in Capitol Hill the true state of deplorable human rights abuses, lawlessness in Nigeria. The reign of terrorism, despotism, impunity, genocide against Judeo-Christian ethnic groups and judicial rascality of the Supreme Court of Nigeria will be laid bare for the American audience to fully grasp the level of evil going on in Nigeria.”

Powerful added that the march would also afford IPOB an opportunity to demonstrate its unsurpassed global might and prove to the entire world how serious, determined  and focussed the group is towards the enthronement of universal freedom, democracy and rule of law for all, not just for Biafrans alone.

“Only after this march will the world finally appreciate the level of human misery and pain inflicted by a violent minority from the core Sharia Arewa North on the rest of the populations unfortunate enough to find themselves trapped in the British Colonial Experiment (BCE) gone wrong called Nigeria.

“What is happening today in Nigeria, is far worse than what obtained during the darkest days of apartheid in South Africa. All the ethnic cleansing going on in the Middle Belt, religious persecution of Christians in the north, genocide in South and forceful Islamisation of Christian enclaves will be better appreciated by opinion leaders right across the world after this march”, the group alleged.

The IPOB spokesman also said “The public in the USA will finally know that both Nigeria Senate and House of Representatives are busy promoting laws to give greater funding to terrorists who will one day attack American interests. We are calling on all Biafrans (Ijaw, Igbanke, Igala, Idoma/Igede, Annang, Efik, Ogoni, Igbo, Itsekiri, Urhobo, Isoko) all peace loving religious groups and associations from Southern Kaduna, across the Middle Belt down to the east and west living in America and other parts of the world to come out with their children and march for freedom for all because the pathway to our freedom is in our hands”.

BIAFRA : Nnamdi Kanu to lead million man match over killing of Christians – IPOB

The Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, on Friday, disclosed that its leader, Nnamdi Kanu will lead a one-million-man march to protest against the killing of Christians in Nigeria.

The match by Kanu and members of IPOB will take place on the 20th of June in Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

A statement by IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful said the match was aimed at creating international awareness on the killing of Christians in Nigeria.

The Separatist group also explained that the match would help liberate victims of “neo-colonial subjugation in Nigeria.”

According to the statement: “We the global and indomitable family of the Indigenous Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu wish to humbly notify Biafrans, friends of Biafra, persecuted Judeo-Christian communities in Nigeria, victims of Fulani terrorism and state sponsored genocide, including all who are reeling from brutal Fulanisation and genocidal land grabbing tendencies of the vandals from the Sahel aided by the regime in Aso Rock- about the upcoming IPOB One Million Man Match scheduled to hold in Washington DC on 20th of June 2020.

“Our great leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his entourage will lead this march of Biafrans, the forcefully dispossessed, all victims of Fulani religious persecution, the enslaved and oppressed minorities in Northern Nigeria, friends of Biafra and lovers of freedom all over the world on the match towards the liberation of victims of neo-colonial subjugation in Nigeria on that fateful day near Capitol Hill Washington USA.

“We are delighted to announce that we have sought and have been granted relevant permits by the various US state and federal law enforcement agencies in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia as millions of Biafrans and non-Biafran persecuted Christian communities from across the globe are expected to storm Washington DC for this once in a lifetime march to draw global attention to the unspeakable human misery and rivers of blood flowing throughout Biafraland and Nigeria at large.”

Recall that Kanu had recently lamented the killing of Christians in Nigeria.

The IPOB leader had urged the International Criminal Court, ICC, to take action against the killing of Christians across the country.

BIAFRA : Why it’s difficult for Ndigbo to forget Biafra –Nnabuife

David Onwuchekwa, Nnewi

Chairman, Anambra South Traditional Rulers Forum, His Royal Majesty, Igwe Emmanuel Nnabuife, Ezeoha of Isseke in Ihiala LGA, Anambra State has taken a critical look at the war against corruption under President Muhammadu Buhari’s watch, pointing out some loopholes.

What is your assessment of Buhari – led administration in terms of fight against corruption?

Well, the way to fight corruption or fighting corruption means more than the present government is doing. If the fight is selective, then it is counter productive. If on the other hand the fight is by lip service, it is also counter productive.

There are many ways of fighting corruption – increasing productivity and making sure that more jobs are created. If the vice of society becomes reduced. Fighting corruption should not only be talked about but also demonstrated in all strata of life in the country.

Fighting corruption means there won’t be anything that will be anti economic, anti government and anti society.

When your government is nepotic, you’re not fighting any corruption because you are aggravating the indices of corruption. You should put square peg in a square hole.

You see, merit is sometimes no longer put into consideration in appointments and recognition. People go through the back door, giving bribes to gain admission, giving bribes to get contracts, giving bribes for everything, bribing even to evade tax.

So, once we put merit ahead of everything we do, to establish standard and do things right, then fight against corruption begins. There will be an internal mechanism that will fight corruption, if the right thing is done.

Fighting corruption doesn’t mean taking people to court and finding them guilty. Fighting corruption goes further than that. Like you are here in my house and you have free access to me and things are done orderly. Nobody took a bribe from you for you to see me. You didn’t bribe anybody because you want to see me. Now, if you want to see some governors, you have to bribe their lieutenants. The same thing goes when you want to see the Head of State. You have to bribe some of the staff before you see him. That is corruption. The same thing applies to ministers. Now, some lawyers compromise when somebody steals N1million and when he is being prosecuted, he now uses N400,000 to pay a lawyer to get him out of the hook. They use technicalities to quash case of corruption against the accused. That is deepening corruption, not fighting it.

If somebody is able to bribe a judge in order not to go to jail after he has stolen money, it is deepening corruption and not fighting it. But where things are clearly done and justice prevails universally irrespective of social status, religion or ethnic nationality, then it becomes generic and fight against corruption has a human face.

The present fight against corruption does not have a clear human face. It has the face of a monster.

That is why it looks as if corruption is fighting back. So, if the right things are done, it will stamp out corruption in our society.

What is your comment on free visa to people from other African countries which the Buhari administration has granted?

I think that is obnoxious and unacceptable to the Nigerian people. But it is the reality of today.

The only thing we can do is that those in-coming foreigners should remain with the people who brought them. I will advise my Igbo brothers in the South East not to allow any foreigner to their land. And those people who are coming should restrict themselves to those people who invited them. But I will advise everybody to be vigilant and make sure he stands up and defend himself against any aggression. The intention of that open visa policy is unknown to us, unknown to most Nigerians. And whatever it could develop to become, nobody can predict. Therefore, everybody should be vigilant and prepared to defend himself.

Some Igbo are strongly subscribing to cessation from Nigeria to Republic of Biafra as a permanent solution to all these. Do you subscribe to that too?

Now, Biafra is more or less an ideology, you must understand it. What brought about Biafra are certain circumstances in our land. Because of that, there was a war of aggression against the Eastern Region. At the end of the war, we were promised rehabilitation, reconciliation and reintegration.

Those three Rs are mere rhetoric, they are not executed to the letter because immediately the pronunciation of those three Rs, the value of money in our hands was reduced to 20 pounds and with 20 pounds, the people of the Eastern Region started reconstructing themselves, rehabilitating themselves and all of that. They deprived the Eastern Region of industries, roads and made Eastern Region inhabitable.

And because of that, there was a surge of people of the East for a greener pasture in other parts of Nigeria which led to people of the East abandoning the East to go and develop other regions because they were looking for what does not exist in their own region. And that is why it is now becoming very difficult to get our people back home after they have embraced one Nigeria, embraced rehabilitation, embraced everything to settle down outside their homeland.

Community projects are what have helped the East so far. You don’t see Federal Government presence anywhere in the East. Tell me one functional Federal Government industry in the South East. None. All the industries in the South East are developed by the South Easterners themselves either individually or communally.

Most of the roads built in the South East are built by South Easterners either communally or individually. And to some extent, the State governments use their money to develop the South East. Those ones they call federal roads are not catered for and in most cases, impassable. So, there is no federal presence in the South East Region.